Ex  ICtbrtB 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


When  you  leave,  please  leave  this  hook 

Because  it  has  heen  said 
"Ever  thing  comes  t'  him  who  waits 

Except  a  loaned  hook." 


OH' —  f  SI  £0y:  5<* 


Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


4 

N. Y, Academy 
Of  Sciences 


[D0CU3IENT  NO.  61] 


City  Hall,  Novembpr  10,  1832. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Joint  Committees  on  Fire  and  Water,  hel$ 
if)  the  room  of  the  Board  of  Assistants,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  Colonel  De  Witt  Clinton  be  requested  and  au- 
thorised to  proceed  and  examine  the  continuation  of  the  route 
from  Chatterton  Hill,  near  White  Plains,  to  Croton  River,  or  such 
other  sources  in  that  vicinity  from  which  he  may  suppose  that  an 
inexhaustible  supply  of  pure  and  wholesome  water  for  the  city  of 
New- York  may  be  obtained  ;  also,  his  opinion  of  the  best  mode  of 
conducting  the  same  to  the  city,  and  the  probable  expense  as  well 
as  the  practicability  of  bringing  the  water  across  Harlaem  River, 
and  the  most  suitable  point  where  the  same  shall  be,  and  the  best 
mode  of  doing  it,  and  that  he  be  authorised  to  employ  two  assis- 
tants to  aid  him  in  the  undertaking. 

JAMES  PALMER,  Chairman, 
CHARLES  HENRY  HALL, 
WILLIAM  MANDEVILLE. 
GEORGE  W.  BRUEN, 
PETER  S.  TITUS, 
DENIS  M'CARTHY. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  on  Fire~and  Water,  Dec.  22, 
1832,  the  following  report  was  received  from  Colonel  De  Witt 
Clinton,  and  five  hundred  copies  were  directed  to  be  printed. 


To  Alderman  James  Palmer, 

Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  subjects  relating 
to  Fire  and  Water,  ' 

Sir, 

I  fully  concur  with  your  Committee  on  the  practicability 
of  obtaining  for  the  city,  a  copious  and  inexhaustible  supply  of 
pure  and  wholesome  water,  at  a  reasonable  expense,  when  com- 
pared with  the  utility  and  importance  of  the  object.  I  therefore 
submit,  in  compliance  with  your  wishes,  the  following  report  on 
that  subject,  embracing  all  matters  connected  either  with  its  im- 
portance or  feasibility. 

2.  I  must  howevei,  remark,  that  in  presenting  the  results  of  my 
labours  and  researches  for  the  consideration  of  your  Committee, 
mv  opinions  are  formed  under  great  perplexities  and  doubts,  arising 
from  the  contradictory  statements,  and  from  the  want  of  proper 
surveys,  the  intricacy  of  the  invesiications,  and  from  the  number 
of  plans  that  have  been  in  contemplation,  and  from  a  wide  differ- 
ence of  opinion  among  our  fellow-citizens,  on  the  proper  source 
to  procure  the  water,  and  the  manner  and  the  route  by  which  it 
ought  to  be  conducted  to  the  city.  I  should  therefore,  under  all 
the  circumstances,  have  declined  the  confidence  of  your  Committee, 
if  I  had  not  been  cheered  by  a  faint  hope  that  my  investigations, 
in  some  small  degree,  might  assist  you  in  placing  the  question 
fully  before  your  constituents,  in  order  to  secure  their  cordial  co- 
operation in  a  work  so  essentially  connected  with  their  prosperity, 

3.  It  is  allowed  by  all,  that  the  source  from  which  the  supply  of 
water  ou^iit  to  be  taken,  should  not  only  be  equal  to  the  present 
consumption  of  the  city,  but  in  sufficient  quantities  to  provide  for 
a  dense  and  compact  population  over  the  whole  island.  Not  that 
it  is  proposed  at  this  day  to  construct  works  of  sufficient  capacity 


193  [Doc.  No  61. 


for  that  purpose,  but  so  to  arrange  the  plan  as  to  admit  of  its  ex. 
tension  with  the  increase  of  population,  revenue  and  demands  of 
the  city. 

4.  It  is  evident  that  if  our  prosperity,  as  a  nation  and  a  state, 
should  continue  uninterrupted,  and  our  country  augmenting  in 
wealth,  and  in  population,  in  the  same  ratio  as  during  the  last  fifty 
years,  sixty  years  will  not  elapse  from  this  period,  before  this  island 
will  be  inhabited  by  one  million  of  souls.  This  remark  will  not 
appear  exaggerated,  when  we  reflect  that  in  1697,  this  city  con- 
tained but  four  thousand  three  hundred  and  two  persons ;  that 
Philadelphia,  in  1800,  exceeded  it  fifteen  thousand;  and  at  this 
time,  its  population  is  more  than  two  hundred  and  twenty  thousand. 
That  the  value  of  all  kinds  of  property  on  the  island,  has  increased 
within  the  last  year,  over  twenty  millions  of  dollars ;  and  that  it  is 
now  assessed  at  one  hundred  and  forty-five  millions  of  dollars ; 
and  that  it  is  only  since  1800,  that  New  York  has  been  ranked  the 
first  commercial  emporium  of  the  country. 

5.  If  this  city  has  been  so  eminently  prosperous  in  the  last  few 
years,  what  greater  augmentation  of  her  wealth  and  extent  may 
not  be  reasonably  anticipated,  from  the  enterprize  of  her  merchants, 
the  skill  of  her  mariners,  the  ingenuity  of  her  manufacturers, 
the  industry,  patriotism  and  economy  of  her  citizens  ;  and  also 
from  the  facilities,  cheapness  and  despatch  which  tiie  various  ave- 
nues of  inter-communication,  natural  and  artificial,  in  the  different 
states,  have  opened  to  her,  and  in  the  completion  of  new  channels 
of  communication  ;  many  of  them  in  progress,  and  others  in  con- 
templation, tending  to  unite  her  more  permanently,  and  more 
advantageously,  with  all  parts  of  our  improving  and  diversified 
country. 

6.  With  such  evidence  of  an  augmenting  and  multiplying 
wealth  and  population  in  the  increase  of  her  ships,  her  manufac- 
tories, and  the  permanency  and  splendour  of  her  public  and 
private  dwellings ;  and  with  the  most  conclusive  evidence  from 
her  geographical  position,  and  her  proximity  to  the  ocean,  and 
the  security  of  her  harbour,  that  she  must  be  to  this  country,  what 
London  is  to  England.  It  must  not  only  be  a  matter  of  surprise 
and  of  profound  regret,  that  she  is  destitute  of  a  supply  of  good 
and  wholesome  water,  and  that  there  should  exist  any  hesitation 
to  grant  her  power  to  obtain  an  element  so  essentially  connected 
with  the  prosperity,  health  and  comfort  of  her  citizens. 


Doc.  No,  61.] 


194 


7.  But  why  lias  this  important  measure  been  so  long  delayed  b^ 
the  city  ?  Will  it  he  found  in  the  opposition  of  our  fellow-citizens  ? 
It  is  believed  not,  as  it  is  said  a  large  majority  of  them  are  in  fa- 
vor of  the  introduction  of  water ;  but  then,  why  has  all  former 
efforts  of  the  city  authorites  been  unsuccessful  ?  Is  it  not  owing 
to  causes  over  which  they  have  no  control ;  from  an  extraneous 
but  powerful  influence,  which  uot  only  exerts  itself  in  this  wide 
community,  but  in  our  legislative  halls ;  from  the  powers  and  im- 
munities granted  to  the  Manhattan  Company ;  and  from  the  di- 
versity of  opinion  among  the  friends  of  the  measure  on  the 
supply  of  water,  the  plan  of  the  work,  and  the  expense  of  the 
undertaking  ? 

8  In  1799,  a  Company  was  incorporated,  styled  the  New- York 
Manhattan  Water  Works,  with  a  view  to  supply  the  City  with  pure 
and  wholesome  water.  The  Capital  of  the  Company  is  over  two 
millions  of  dollars  ;  the  Charter  is  perpetual,  granting  the  Com- 
pany the  control  over  the  Streams  and  Springs  on  the  Island  of 
New-York  and  the  County  of  West  Chester  J  for  the  above  ob- 
jects. It  must,  however,  be  recollected,  that  when  the  Charter 
was  granted,  that  the  population  of  the  City  was  a  little  over 
sixty  thousand  persons  ;  that  the  year  previous,  the  Yellow  Fever 
had  visited  the  City  with  all  its  horrors  and  virulence,  and  the 
minds  of  all  were  filled  under  their  calamities  with  great  dread  j 
that  the  Corporation  evinced  no  disposition  to  embark  in  the 
work,  and  the  character  of  the  Well  Water  was  generally  good. 
It  was  also  supposed,  that  good  water  could  be  procured  from  the 
Bronx,  within  a  distance  of  twelve  miles  of  the  Old  City  Hall,  for 
$200,000,  and  the  supposed  consumption  of  the  City  was  300,000 
gallons.  We  are  now,  however,  informed  by  the  Water  Com- 
mittee, in  their  Report  of  1831,  That  the  Manhattan  Company, 
u  have  been  more  intent  in  making  money  by  their  banking  op- 
erations, than  accomplishing  the  avowed  objects  of  their  Charter 
and  have  left  the  City  totally  unsupplied  with  Water,  which  can 
be  called  pure  and  wholesome,  and  over  four  fifths  of  the  paved 
parts  of  the  City,  without  any  supply  whatsoever."  With  their 
Report,  they  give  the  following  Analysis  of  the  Manhattan  Wa- 
ter, "  By  which  it  will  appear,  it  is  unfit  for  the  use  of  Man." 

9  One  wine  quart  was  slowly  evaporated  to  dryness.  The 
dryness  weighed  31.45  grains,  equal  to  125.80  solid  matter  in  the 
gallon,  consisting 


195 


[Doc.  No.  61. 


Of  Muriate  of  Soda,  -  -  -  45.20 

"  Muriate  of  Magnesia,  -  40.00 
u  Sulphate,  of  Magnesia,  -  -  6.00 

"  Carbonate  of  Lime,  with  a  little  Carb.  of  Mag.  12.80 
"  Sulphate  of  Lime,  -  -  -  4.00 

"  Extractive  matter  combined  with  water,  17.80 


Mass  in  a  gallon  of  water,        -  -  125.80 


10.  The  works  of  the  Manhattan  Company  consists  of  a  Welt 
in  Cross-street,  twenty-five  feet  in  diameter,  and  two  Steam  En- 
gines of  eighteen  horse  power  each  ;  a  Reservoir  on  Chambers- 
street,  and  one  or  two  small  wooden  Reservoirs.  In  a  Circular, 
signed  by  John  Lozier,  Esq.  in  1 823,  he  states,  that  the  Steam 
Engines  work  sixteen  hours  in  the  day,  and  raise  in  twenty  four 
hours,  691,200  gallons,  which  is  more  than  one  fifth  greater  than 
the  capacity  of  the  Reservoir ;  that  twenty-five  miles  of  pipes 
were  then  down,  and  the  Company  supplied  two  thousand  houses,, 
excluding  manufactories,  &c.  He  also  remarks,  "  That  the  wa- 
ter was  pumped  very  clear  from  the  Well,  and  the  Reservoirs  so 
constructed  with  Strainers,  that  impurities  of  any  kind,  cannot 
pass  into  the  pipe  of  Conduit."  That  the  Company  had  not  ex= 
pended  less  than  $400,000  in  constructing  the  Works,  and  that 
the  Well  from  which  the  water  is  obtained,  was  the  Old  Tea  Wa- 
ter Pump,  and  was  called  Tea  Water,  and  was  considered  the 
best  on  the  Island. 

11.  The  Manhattan  Company  since  1823,  have  employed  Mr. 
Dinsbrow  to  construct  a  Well,  near  the  corner  of  Bleecker-street 
and  Broadway  ;  its  diameter  is  eight  inches,  and  its  depth  is  four 
hundred  and  forty-two  feet. 

12.  The  conclusions  which  we  can  draw  from  Mr.  Lozier's 
Circular  in  1823,  are  these,— That  the  Manhattan  Reservoir 
on  Chambers-street,  does  not  contain  a  quantity  equal  to  the  daily 
consumption,  or  it  is  five  times  filled  and  emptied  in  every  twen- 
ty-four hours,  and  the  water  when  distributed  for  use,  is  in  the 
same  state  as  the  water  in  the  pumps  and  well !  That  the  Com- 
pany have,  on  an  average,  laid  one  mile  of  pipe,  mostly  of  wood, 
every  year  since  its  incorporation  to  1823,  and  that  the  best  pump 
water  on  the  Island,  by  having  a  dense  population  collected 
around  its  sources,  has  lost  its  goodness7  and  now  contains  foreign 
matter  destructive  to  health. 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


DIG 


13.  The  Manhattan  Water  Company  have,  however,  the  ability 
from  their  Charter,  if  not  fo  defeat,  at  least  to  procrastinate  ihe 
introduction  of  water  by  the  City  for  many  years.  A  contention 
with  that  Company,  may,  therefore,  result  in  a  vexati  »us  suit, 
and  defer  the  accomplishment  of  a  measure  so  materially  blended 
with  the  welfare  of  our  fellow  citizens  for  years,  and  be  destruc- 
tive to  the  prosperity  of  the  Ci^y.  But  this  subject  is  peculiarly 
the  care  of  your  Committee,  and  your  views  when  once  expressed, 
ought  to  guide  the  opinions  of  our  joint  <  ity  Council,  and  your 
determination  in  this  matter  ought  to  be  well  considered,  and  then 
followed  up  with  energy,  as  it  must  rest  with  you  to  decide  whe- 
ther you  will  recommend  coercive  measures,  or  amicably  adjust 
the  difficulties,  and  cordially  co-operate  with  tliat  institution  to 
secure  the  accomplishment  of  the  subject  of  our  investigations. 

14.  In  1823,  the  Legislature  of  New-York  incorporated  the 
Sharon  Canal  Company,  with  the  power  to  make  a  Canal  from 
the  western  boundary  of  the  State  of  Connecticut  to  the  City  of 
New- York.  The  grant  secures  to  the  Canal  Company  all  the 
water  on  its  route  for  the  use  of  its  works,  and  to  supply  the  City 
with  pure  and  wholesome  water. 

15.  The  route  of  the  Sharon  Canal  commenced  in  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  at  the  junction  of  the  Oblong  River,  with  a  small 
stream,  which  flows  from  the  Mudge  and  other  ponds.  It  followed 
the  course  of  the  Oblong  River  to  the  town  of  Dover,  descending 
thirty-two  feet  below  the  starting  point ;  it  then  entered  the  val- 
ley of  Swamp  River,  and  passed  through  the  towns  of  Pauling, 
Patterson,  and  southeast  to  Crawford's  Mill,  on  the  east  branch  of 
the  Croton  River.  The  length  of  this  part  of  the  route  is  forty 
miles,  and  the  fall  from  the  dividing  ridge,  between  the  Croton 
and  (he  Ten  Mile  River  is  fifty-six  feet ;  making  a  total  fall  from 
the  starting  point  of  eighty-eight  feet. 

16.  On  the  Sharon  Canal  Level,  the  greatest  depth  of  cutting 
between  the  Ten  Mile  River  and  the  Croton  Valley,  is  fourteen 
feet,  which  extends  for  one  hundred  rods.  The  country  is  flat, 
and  it  would  require  a  distance  of  one  and  a  half  mile  before  the 
level  of  the  Canal  would  be  entirely  free  of  digging  between  the 
vallies.  The  level  of  the  Canal,  however,  determines  the  fact, 
that  the  Oblong  River  may  be  turned  into  the  valley  of  the  Cro- 
ton. 


197  [Doc.  No.  61. 


17.  From  Crawford's  Mills  the  route  followed  the  north  bank 
of  the  Croton  River,  and  within  one  hundred  rods  of  Sodom  Cor- 
ners it  crossed  that  river  in  an  aqueduct  to  the  south  bank.  From 
thence  it  continues  in  a  southwesterly  course  on  the  level  of  the 
Aqueduct  to  North  Salem  on  Titicus  River;  then  to  South  Salem 
Academy,  and  to  Cross  River  Village,  and  down  the  valley  of 
Cross  River  to  Governor  Jay's,  and  then  to,  or  near  North  Castle 
Corners  ;  it  then  crossed  over  into  Mill  and  Saw-Mill  Rivers,  and 
enteied  the  valley  of  the  Bronx,  and  passed  by  West  Farms,  and 
maintained  an  elevation  of  ninety-seven  feet  above  tide,  within 
one  mile  of  Macomb's  Dam. 

18.  Crawford's  Mills,  on  the  east  branch  of  the  Croton,  is  fifty- 
two  miles  from  Macomb's  Dam,  and  is  four  hundred  and  eight 
feet  above  it  The  greatest  obstructions  appear  to  be  on  the  part 
of  the  route  between  the  head  of  the  Saw  Mill  River  and  Craw- 
ford's Mills,  and  between  that  point  and  the  Titicus  River.  On 
the  route  surveyed  by  Mr.  Young,  there  are  two  Tunnels — the 
first  is  thirteen  hundred  and  twenty  yards  in  length,  and  the  ridge 
is  fifty  four  feet  above  it ;  the  second  is  seventeen  hundred  and 
sixty  yards  long,  and  the  hill  is  eighty  four  feet  above  its  level. 
From  Crawford's  Mill  the  Canal  is  continued  on  a  level  for  thirty 
miles,  until  it  has  passed  into  the  valley  of  the  Saw  Mill  River. 
Mr.  Young  estimated  the  expense  of  constructing  the  Canal  be- 
tween the  Mills  and  the  Harlem  River,  at  §965.862,  or  $18,575 
per  mile.  The  dimensions  of  the  work  were  twenty-eight  feet 
bottom,  water  line  forty  feet,  and  the  depth  of  water  four  feet. 
If  this  survey  is  to  be  considered  accurate,  it  demonstrates  the 
practicability  of  uniting  the  east  branch  of  the  Croton,  the  Titicus 
and  Cross  River,  and  Beaver  Brook,  and  the  upper  branches  of 
the  Ciscoe  Brook  with  the  Saw  Mill  Valley,  but  at  a  great  ex- 
pense, and  under  great  difficulty  in  execution.  But  this  subject 
will  be  again  examined,  when  I  consider  the  supply  of  water. 

19.  In  1825,  a  new  Company  was  incorporated,  styled  the  New- 
York  Water  Works,  with  powers  to  supply  the  City  of  New  York 
with  pure  and  wholesome  water  from  the  County  of  West  Ches- 
ter. In  1826,  a  report  was  made,  and  a  plan  submitted  by  Can- 
vass White,  Esq.  Civil  Engineer  to  the  then  Board  of  Directors  ;  but 
owing  to  the  difficulties  in  which  the  Company  was  placed  by  the 
opposition  of  the  Sharon  Canal,  and  the  Manhattan  Company? 
nothing  was  done,  and  the  Company  voluntarily  gave  up  their 
grant,  which  by  its  own  duration  would  have  expired  this  year, 


Doe.  No.  6 1. J 


198 


20.  In  1 827,  t^e  Legislature  incorporated  a  fourth  Company, 
styled  the  New- York  Well  Company.  The  water  was  to  be  pro- 
cured on  the  Island,  by  sinking  wells  on  the  most  elevated 
grounds.  The  Company  made  several  attempts  to  procure  water, 
but  being  satisfied  by  their  experiments  of  the  impractibility  of 
the  undertaking,  the  concern  fell  through. 

21.  Having  shown  all  the  Companies  that  have  been  legally 
authorized  by  law,  and  the  condition  of  the  Manhattan  Works, 
and  their  defects  ;  I  now  turn  with  pleasure  to  the  description  of 
a  work,  that  does  the  City  and  its  projectors  much  and  deserved 
credit  ;  T  allude  to  the  City  Reservoir  in  Thirteenth-street. 

22.  The  diameter  of  the  Well  from  which  the  water  is  procured 
is  sixteen  feet ;  its  depth  is  one  hundred  and  twelve  feet — ninety- 
seven  of  which  is  excavated  in  solid  rock  ;  its  bottom  is  sixty  two 
feet  below  common  high  tide.  On  the  East  side  and  within 
twelve  feet  of  the  bottom  of  the  well,  there  is  a  horizontal  passage 
which  extends  into  the  rock  seventy  five  feet,  it  is  four  feet  wide 
and  six  feet  high  ;  on  the  west  side  there  is  a  similar  passage  se- 
venty-five feet  long,  and  with  a  branch  twenty-five  feet.  They 
are  both  four  by  six  feet  The  object  of  these  horizontal  excava- 
tions was  to  increase  the  quantity  of  water,  and  to  provide  room  to 
store  it,  in  case  of  any  sudden  or  unexpected  demand  being  made 
on  the  yield  of  the  well.  The  water  rises  in  the  well  to  within 
twelve  feet  of  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  it  contains,  with  its 
horizontal  passages,  175,150  gallons. 

23.  From  the  well  the  water  is  raised  by  a  steam  engine  of 
twelve  horse  power,  into  an  iron  tank  in  a  building  of  an  octago- 
nal form.  The  bottom  of  the  tank  is  eighty-three  and  a  half  feet 
above  tide.  It  is  forty-four  feet  in  diameter,  is  twenty  and  a  half 
feet  high,  and  will  contain  233,169  gallons.  From  the  tank  the 
water  is  conducted  into  the  mains  by  curved  pipes  of  twenty  in- 
ches diameter. 

24.  The  cost  of  these  works  appears  to  be,  from  a  statement 
made  to  me  by  Mr.  Wenman  the  late  superintendant,  as  follows. 
Cost  of  eleven  lots  of  ground  on  which  the  works  stand,  .$12,250 
Tank,    $4,200.       Building  for  tank,    ,$5,041.  } 

Foundation  of  building  and  well,    $1,377*  >  15,033 

Foundation  of  tank  including  arching,    $4,415.  j 
Excavating  well  and  passages,  -  9,000 

Steam  engine  and  fixtures,    $5,250.       Building  over  )    ~  Q-n 
steam  engine,    $700.  -  -  >  D,yDU 


Total  cost  of  works. 


$42,233 


199 


[Doc.  No.  61. 


25.  Since  the  purchase  of  the  lots  on  which  the  buildings  stand, 
real  estate  in  that  part  of  our  City  has  very  much  increased  in  va- 
lue. Mr.  Wen  man  states,  that  the  value  of  the  eleven  lots  is  now 
equal  to  $20,000,  which  would  make  the  present  value  of  the 
works  $49,983. 

26.  The  annual  expense  of  keeping  the  above  works  in  repair 
and  in  operation  will  be  equal  to  the  investment  of  a  capital  of 
#53,000,  drawing  an  interest  of  five  per  cent ;  as  will  appear  by 
the  following  calculation. 

The  Salary  of  an  .Engineer  and  Firemen  for  12  months,  $  960 
Fuel  of  Engine,  oiling,  picking,  and  packing  same,  1,368 
Averaged  annual  decay  of  boiler,  -  354 
Averaged  annual  decay  of  balance  of  machinery,  -  383 
Contingent  expenses,  -  -  -  -  100 

Total  annual  expense,       $3,1 65 

27.  It  therefore  appears  that  the  total  averaged  expense  of 
building  the  reservoir,  and  maintaining  the  works  and  keeping 
them  in  repair,  is  equal  to  an  actual  expenditure  of  a  capital  of 
$113,283. 

28.  From  a  statement  now  before  me,  it  appears,  that  the  City 
has  laid  the  following  extent  of  pipes. 

Pipes  twenty  inch  diameter,  connecting  bottom  of  tank  with  the 
mains  in  Thirteenth-street,  80  feet  cost  $600. 

Pipes  twelve  inches  diameter,  commencing  in  Thirteenth-street, 
to  Third  Avenue  down  to  Bowery,  Chatham  and  Pearl  and  Wil- 
liam street,  and  between  William  and  Stone  Streets,  20,194  feet, 
cost  $46,546. 

Pipes  ten  inches  diameter,  from  Grand-street  to  Broadway  and 
Bowery,  from  Bowery  to  Houston,  to  Bedford,  through  Bedford 
to  Christopher  ;  also  from  Chatham  to  East  Broadway,  and 
through  East  Broadway  to  Sheriff,  making  a  length  of  10,232 
feet,  the  cost  is  $18,746. 

Pipes  six  inches  diameter,  from  Bowery  to  Delancey  and  to 
Cannon,  making  4,220  feet  in  length,  the  cost  is  $4,960. 

20.  The  aggregate  lengths  of  the  pipes  is  thirty-four  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  twenty-six  feet,  and  the  cost  is  seventy  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  or  two  dollars,  four  and  a  half  cents 
per  foot  as  the  mean  cost  of  the  whole. 

2 


Doc.  No.  61.]  200 


30.  It  also  appears  that  the  following  quantity  has  been  ordered 
by  the  city,  and  delivered,  but  not  laid,  viz  : — 

For  the  Broadway  line,  Hudson  and  Chambers-street,  twelve 
inch  diameter,  nine  thousand  four  hundred  and  sixty -four  feet 
cost  eighteen  thousand  one  hundred  and  seven  dollars. 

For  Stanton-street,  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  one  feet  cost 
one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fifty-nine  dollars,  ten  inches 
diameter. 

For  Sheriff-street,  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five  feet  cost  six 
hundred  and  thirty-four  dollars,  six  inches  diameter. 

31.  The  pipes  which  are  laid  in  the  city,  are  in  pieces  of  nine 
feet  length :  the  lap  of  the  pipe  is  six  inches,  or  when  laid,  one 
piece  enters  the  other  six  inches,  and  makes  each  length  of  pipe, 
when  laid,  equal  to  eight  and  a  half  feet:  the  joints  or  laps  are 
soldered  with  lead,  &c.  they  are  laid  four  feet  deep  in  the  ground. 

32.  The  following  table  will  show  the  expense  of  laying  pipes 
of  different  dimensions — the  quantity  of  lead  used — the  cost  of 
ditching  and  covering — the  expense  of  melting  lead — and  the 
cost  per  foot  of  pipes,  as  ascertained  from  Mr.  Wenman,  the  late 
Superintendent;  when  the  pipes  are  curved,  an  additional  allow- 
ance is  made  for  casting  them  ;  curved  pipes  are  frequently  neces- 
sary to  avoid  vaults,  wells,  drains,  &c. 

TABLE. 


Diameter  of 
Pipes. 

Cost  of  Pipe 
per  foot. 

Pounds  of 
lead  required 
for  each  joint. 

Cost  of  Ditch- 
ing, Unpaving 
and  Repaving 
&c.  of  streets, 
per  foot 

Cost  of  Fuel 
for  Lead,  per 
mile. 

Cost  of  one 
mile  of  Pipe. 

12  inches. 

$1  57 

20 

28 

10  00 

$11,345  67 

10  do. 

1  38  to 

16 

23 

9  50 

8,997  29 

1  50 

6  do. 

0  80 

10 

14 

6  00 

5,253  76 

4  do. 

0  50 

7  1-2 

13 

5  00 

3,759  15 

20  do. 

4  08 

79 

56 

43  50 

27,295  65 

33.  Stop  valves  are  necessary  in  case  of  any  derangement  of 
the  pipes  or  leakage  ;  there  ought  not  to  be  less  than  five  in  the 
mile.  Fire  Plugs  are  also  necessary,  and  also  branch  pipes  from 
the  mains,  and  on  the  cross-streets,  will  occasion  an  additional' ex- 
pense. In  the  table  they  are  divided  into  double  and  single 
branches ;  there  are  also  branches  leading  the  water  into  the  fire 
plugs,  and  bonnets  at  the  ends  of  the  pipes;  to  prevent  the  dis- 
charge of  water.  The  following  Table  embraces  all  those  items 
and  their  cost. 


201 


[Doc.  No.  61. 


5 


The  Plugs  each 
Extra  Pipe 


$28  50 
11  48 


f      Total  Cost       $39  98 


h  leading  I 
re  Plugs.  | 

Extra  cost  of 
each  Branch 

Dols.  Cts. 

GO 
GN  CO 

Diameter 
of  Pipe. 

Inches. 

9  by  4 
6  by  4 

OO  OO  K 
CO  CO  CO 

nnets. 

Cost 

Dols. 

rH  rH 

Bo\ 

Diameter 
of  Pipe. 

£ 

3 
_c 

CN  O  <© 
»H  r- ( 

inch  Pipes. 

Extra  cost  of 
each  Branch 

Dols.  Cts. 

K'J  HO 
CO  'O  |>-  O 

cjo<o© 

I— 1  rH 

I  Single  Brc 

Diameter  of 
Branches. 

Inches. 

(NOOK! 

-O  -O  -Q  -Q 

GN  ©  O  CO 

-H  i— 1  rH  rH 

i 

Extra  cost  of 
each  Branch 

Dols.  Cts. 

OO  rf  CO 
CO  i-i  i>-  t>-  CO  «-H 

(N  "   M    H  M 

Double  Brai 

Diameter  of 
Branches. 

Inches. 

N  N  N  OOO 
rH  1-1  r-  rH 

-Q  -Q  J  ,0  -O.  ^ 

CM  O  O  O  O  O 

1— i      1         H  H 

8 

Cost  of 
each  Valve. 

Dols.  Cts.  | 

111  19 

94  19 
61  19 

u 

M 

I 

Diamel 
of  Pip< 

QQ 

0* 

-a 

u 
a 

<N  o  <o 

r-l  rH 

Doc.  No.  61.] 


202 


34.  My  object  in  thus  presenting  the  expense  of  laying  pipes 
is  with  a  view  to  remove  any  doubts  of  the  practical  part  of  that 
operation,  and  to  show  that  the  expense  is  not  so  great  as  mnny 
persons  suppose.  It  is  also  proper  to  observe,  that  by  an  experi- 
ment which  lias  been  made,  that  the  water  from  the  City  Reser- 
voir can  be  thrown  from  the  fire  plugs  over  the  bouses  in  any 
of  the  lower  parts  of  the  city,  or  south  of  the  reservoir,  or  in  its 
vicinity;  and  Mr.  Wenman  in  a  communication,  says,  "  The 
effect  and  advantages  of  the  City  Reservoir,  bas  already  been 
seen  and  acknowledged  by  our  citizens,  in  the  stopping  of  fires, 
and  in  the  saving  of  property.  I  may  venture  to  say,  that  the  few 
pipes  already  down  has  been  the  means  of  saving  more  property 
than  the  whole  amount  of  expenditures  on  the^  reservoir  and  the 
works  attached  thereto." 

35.  It  is  well  known  to  all,  that  our  city  and  county  is  situated 
on  an  Island  surrounded  by  salt  water.  On  the  east  it  is  bounded 
by  the  East  River,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Hudson.  Those 
streams  unite  at  its  extreme  southern  point,  tfie  Battery.  It  is  se- 
parated from  West  Chester  by  the  Harlem  River,  through  which 
the  tides  ebb  and  flow.  The  greatest  length  of  the  island,  as 
measured  on  the  plan  of  the  city,  from  the  Battery  to  Macomb's 
Mill  at  Kingsbridge,  is  71,700  feet,  or  13  miles  1,7^0  feet,  and  a 
mean  of  fourteen  transversal  measurements  gives  an  average 
breadth  of  8,500  feet,  or  1  mile  3,220  feet.  '  The  greatest  breadth 
is  on  the  line  of  88th  street,  and  is  12,200  feet,  and  the  least  is  at 
15.r>th-street,  and  is  3,200  feet.  The  area  of  the  island  is  about 
1 4,000  acres. 

36  The  outline  of  the  Island  is  not  more  irregular  than  its  sur- 
face. The  ground  within  two  miles  of  Kingsbridge,  at  Fort 
Washington,  and  on  the  line  of  183d-street  is  the  most  elevated. 
It  is  a  source  of  much  regret,  that  the  elevations  of  that  part  of 
the  Island  have  not  been  ascertained.  From  my  own  investiga- 
tions, I  am  satisfied  that  the  highest  lands  on  the  Island  bolder  on 
the  Hudson,  and  are  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Tenth  Avenue.  The  fol- 
lowing Table  contains  the  elevations  of  different  parts  of  the  City, 
and  are  taken  from  the  maps  in  the  Street  Commissioner's  office; 
they  demonstrate  the  fact,  that  unless  the  works  are  taken  to  the 
Tenth  Avenue,  there  will  be  in  the  upper  parts  of  the  City  sec- 
tions of  it  which  will  be  deprived  of  all  participation  in  the  bene- 
fits which  will  arise  from  the  introduction  of  water,  unless  it  is 
elevated  by  machinery  to  those  parts  of  the  Island. 


203  [Doc.  No.  61. 


TABLE. 


Jvenue  No.  1 , 

Avenue  No.  3. 

Avenue  No.  5. 

Avenue  No.  8. 

Avenue  No.  10. 

First 

Column 

First 

Column 

First 

Column 

First 

Column 

First  Col.  shows 

shows  the  -treet 

shows  the  street  show  s  the  Street  shows  the  Street 

the  St. 

or  Point 

or  Point  at  whic  h 

or  Point  at  which  or  Point  at  which  or  Point  at  which 

at  which  the  le- 

the level  istakeu. 

the  level  is  taken,  the    level    was  the    level  was 

vel  was  taken. 

The  2d  Column 

1  he  2d  Column,  taken. 

The  2d  taken. 

The  2d 

The  2d  Col.,  the 

th*>  height  above 
tide  water 

thf  height  above  Col ,  the  height  Col.,  the  height 

height  above 

tide  waier. 

above  tide  water,  above  tid**  water 

tide  wafer. 

Street.  Feet. 

Street 

Feet  \Street  Feet. 

Street  Feet.  [Street.  Feet. 

«i 

12f 

125 

4 

135 

23 

125 

37 

J  54 

153 

111 

105 

125 

25|- 

112 

26 

139 

165 

91 

l6i 

96 

66^ 
88! 

122 

103 

105 

130 

132 

85 

84 

66* 

88 

117 

53^ 

85 

130| 

123 

50i 

r« 

Slf 

77 

53± 

101 

68 

58 

87| 

117 

146 

68 

671 

67 

100? 

90 

114 

41 

491 
29| 

105 

103 

57 

613 

57 

513 

70 

88! 

13 

91 

115 

51 

A(  3 

38 

474 

51 

84s 

77 

112 

40 

794 

17 

461 

36 

83| 
44f 

58 

95 

22 

29 

6 

44| 

23 

34 

57 

North 

40 

10 

15 

18 

The  greatest  elevation  of  the  Fourth  Avenue  is  one  hundred 
and  seventeen  feet  above  tide.  At  the  intersection  of  23d-street, 
it  is  fourteen  and  a  half  feet.  The  highest  ground  on  the  Sixth 
Avenue  is  one  hundred  and  eleven  and  a  half  feet.  The  road  at 
Manhattanville  is  twenty-six  feet. 

37  It  is  evident  from  the  Table,  the  general  slope  of  the 
Island  is  from  the  west  to  the  east,  and  at  points  it  is  much  broken 
by  insulated  and  connected  ridges  and  hills,  and  that  there  is  an 
elevated  range  of  high  ground  running  from  west  to  east,  which 
slopes  towards  the  northern  and  the  southern  parts  of  the  Island. 
This  fact  is  invaluable,  as  it  will  enable  the  Reservoirs  to  be  so 
located,  as  to  command  at  an  elevated  head,  the  whole  City. 

38.  The  general  character  of  the  soil  of  this  Island  is  open, 
through  which  the  rains  that  fall  freely  percolate.  A  small  por- 
tion of  its  area  consists  of  salt  marsh  and  exposed  rock.  It  is, 
however,  commonly  sand  and  gravel  intermixed  with  pebbles  and 
loose  rock,  resting  on  a  stratified  mass  of  gneiss,  which  exists  at 
various  depths,  and  at  places  appears  on  the  surface.  The  depth 
of  soil  has  no  regular  uniformity,  as  ascertained  by  the  boring  of 
Mr.  Dinsbrow's.  At  the  Well  on  Thirteenth-street  it  is  fifteen 
feet ;  at  Bleecker-street  it  is  forty-eight  feet ;  at  the  Dry  Dock  it 
is  one  hundred  feet ;  at  Greenwich  it  is  seventy  feet ;  at  Wash- 
ington Market,  and  at  Crane's  Distillery  it  is  seventy-two  feet, 
We  may,  therefore,  safely  conclude,  that  in  the  lower  Wards,  the 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


soil  is  the  deepest  on  the  rivers,  and  the  rock  rises  with  the  slope 
of  the  island  on  both  sides,  until  it  nearly  approaches  the  surface 
of  the  ground  in  the  lower  wards. 

39.  It  has  been  asserted  by  some,  that  the  rock  on  which  this 
Island  rests  is  in  uniform  strata,  dipping  almost  perpendicularly  ; 
and  by  others,  that  it  dips  in  all  cases  towards  the  west,  and  be- 
comes gradually  less  inclined,  and  assumes  a  horizontal  position. 
Both  of  these  theories,  are  in  truth  but  the  common  deductions  of 
speculative  geology,  and  apply  only  to  the  interior  structure  of  our 
globe,  when  considered  as  a  whole.  They  cannot,  therefore,  be 
properly  applied  to  the  internal  arrangement  of  the  rock  on  this 
Island,  as  it  is  evident  from  an  examination  that  the  rock  on  the 
surface  has  no  uniformity  in  the  angle  of  their  ,dips,  and  in  fact 
the  strata  preserve  no  harmony  in  their  arrangement,  as  some  are 
more  inclined  than  others ;  and  in  different  parts  of  the  Island 
some  incline  to  the  south,  and  others  to  the  west  and  the  east. 
The  rock  does  not  also  exist  in  strata  of  an  uniform  thickness. 
Take  as  an  example,  Mr.  Dinsbrow's  borings  in  Bleecker-street, 
the  layers  of  rock  are  from  nine  to  sixteen  feet  in  thickness. 

40.  Among  the  different  plans  proposed  to  supply  the  city  with 
water,  is  the  one  contemplated  by  Levi  Dinsbrow.  His  scheme 
is  to  perforate  the  rock  by  boring  until  good  water  is  obtained, 
and  to  exclude  the  bad  by  tubing.  The  water  from  the  well  to  be 
raised  for  distribution  by  steam  engines,  and  also  reserved  for  use 
in  a  suitable  reservoir.  He,  as  I  have  before  stated,  has  made 
several  perforations  on  the  Island.  The  most  important  is  the 
one  of  the  Manhattan  Company  on  Bleecker-street.  He  has  also 
made  several  others  varying  from  250  to  72  feet  in  depth. 

41.  That  such  perforations,  as  contemplated  by  Mr.  Dinsbrow, 
will  intersect  veins  and  springs  of  water,  which  have  their  origin 
on  higher  land,  is  no  novelty.  It  is  truer  that  this  fact  was  acci- 
dentally discovered  by  a  common  drainer  in  England  many  years 
ago,  who  applied  it  to  the  drainage  of  lands.  By  this  discovery 
he  realized  a  splendid  fortune,  and  obtained  great  fame.  His 
whole  theory  consisted  in  the  position  and  densities  of  the  strata. 
That  the  water  in  a  porous  stratam,  being  confined  by  denser 
ones,  and  by  penetrating  through  the  compact  layer  would  be  re- 
leased and  come  up  to  the  surface  in  the  form  of  a  spring  or  jet. 

42.  That  the  plan  of  obtaining  water  in  the  above  manner  may 
succeed  on  a  small  scale,  and  for  the  supply  of  families,  and  ma- 


205  [Doc.  No.  61. 


nufactories,  in  which  the  quantity  consumed  is  inconsiderable,  is 
not  problematical,  But  when  you  extend  the  system,  so  as  to 
embrace  a  whole  community,  it  presents  a  different  aspect,  and 
becomes  by  the  extent  of  the  proposition,  in  the  broad  sense  of 
the  word,  an  experiment  of  very  doubtful  character,  and  as  such 
1 1  propose  to  investigate  it. 

43.  It  is  a  fact  that  a  perforation,  if  sufficiently  deep,  will  pro- 
duce water,  and  by  tubing  out  the  bad  springs  and  veins,  it  may 
be  of  excellent  quality,  soft,  cool,  and  palatable.  But  it  does  not 
follow  as  a  necessary  consequence,  that  the  rush  of  water  into  the 
well  will  be  equal  to  the  depth,  as  the  water  may  be  all  bad,  and 
excluded,  except  one  vein,  or  it  may  be  the  whole  quantity  enter- 
ing may  be  good  and  fit  for  use.  The  diameter  of  the  well  in 
Bleecker-street  is  8  inches.  The  City  reservoir  well  is  16  feet. 
The  first  is  442  feet  deep,  and  the  latter  112  feet. 

The  well  in  Bleecker-street  contains,       -        1,154  gallons 
"       City  Reservoir  Well,  -     175,150  " 

Difference  in  capacity  373,996 
It  must  be  evident  to  all  that  the  chances  of  meeting  with  wa- 
ter, and  augmenting  its  quantity,  is  increased  by  the  extent  of  the 
excavations,  and  if  we  compare  the  circumferences  of  the  wells 
together,  we  will  find  that  the  perimeter  of  the  city  well  is  twen- 
ty-four times  greater  than  the  other.  That  the  area  of  the  circle 
in  the  first  case,  is  five  hundred  and  seventy-eight  more  than  the 
other,  and  that  the  united  area  of  the  sides  of  the  horizontal  pas- 
sages have  sixty-two  and  a  half  chances  of  intersecting  water,  over 
any  difference  in  depths  of  the  well.  It  is  also  generally  asserted 
as  ti  fact,  that  there  are  veins  of  water  between  each  stratum  of 
rock.  If  this  is  so,  it  does  not  alter  our  position  ;  as  there  would 
still  remain  all  the  chances  of  the  greater  excavation  encountering 
water,  over  the  smaller  one. 

44.  The  Water  Committee,  in  their  report  in  1831,  state  that 
it  would  require  two  hundred  similar  perforations  with'  the  city 
well,  to  supply  four  millions  of  gallons.  It  would  therefore  require, 
when  this  Island  is  densely  inhabited,  over  one  thousand  wells  to 
supply  one  million  of  people.  Those  excavations  would  also  pe- 
netrate through  the  same  rocky  strata,  and  the  water  would  be 
drawn  from  the  same  sources.  Ill  such  a  number  of  deep  wells, 
supplied  from  the  same  interior  fountains,  have  we  any  evidence 


Doc.  No.  61.]  206 


that  their  supply  would  be  equal  to  the  demand  ;  or,  from  the  hi- 
clioation  of  the  rock,  that  the  lower  wells  would  not  diain  the  more 
elevated  ones,  or  cut  off  their  supply.  This  powerful  and  subtile 
agent,  originating  in  greater  distance  and  on  more  elevated  lands 
than  on  this  Island,  may  by  some  submarine  convulsions  of  na- 
ture, or  by  causes  produced  by  its  own  power  in  its  subterraneous 
routes,  be  diverted  from  its  present  courses,  and  its  virtues  lost. 
Also  the  numerous  perforations,  the  constant  suction  of  the  pumps, 
and  the  accumulation  of  inhabitants  in  the  vicinity  of  the  wells, 
may  completely  change  the  character  of  the  water,  and  what  is 
now  good  may  become  very  bad. 

45.  There  is  one  striking  advantage  in  the  city  well  over  the 
perforations  proposed  by  Mr,  Dinsbrow.  That  work  is  in  fact  a 
reservoir  in  itself,  and  in  which  the  water  is  storing  while  the  ma- 
chinery is  at  rest,  while  in  the  plan  of  the  latter,  it  is  necessary 
that  there  should  be  a  quantity  of  water  entering,  equal  to  the 
daily  consumption  of  the  part  of  the  city  in  which  it  was  situated, 
and  would  render  it  necessary  that  the  engine  should  be  in  con- 
stant operation  during  the  twenty-four  hours  ;  and  as  ti  e  princi- 
pal consumption  would  be  during  the  day,  it  is  therefore  evident, 
that  the  capacity  of  his  tanks  would  have  to  be  greater  by  163,096 
gallons  than  the  city  well,  if  the  perforation  supplied  a  quantity 
equal  to  that  work. 

46.  I  have  no  experiments  of  my  own  to  show  the  quantity  of 
water  a  well  or  bore  is  capable  of  supplying  in  twenty-four  hours 
on  this  island.  It  is,  however,  certain  that  the  quantity  may  vary 
from  local  causes.  The  well  on  Thirteenth-street  supplies  20,000 
gallons.  The  one  on  Bleecker-street,  Mr.  Sullivan  states,  yields 
44,000  gallons  in  twenty-four  hours,  u  but  it  could  be  made  to 
supply  120,000  gallons,  which  would  be  equal  to  the  necessary 
supply  for  a  ward." 

47.  It  will  be  recollected  that  Mr.  Dinsbrow's  plan  was  to  sup- 
ply the  city  by  a  well  and  reservoir  in  each  ward.  It  therefore 
appears,  that  if  each  ward  required  120,000  gallons,  it  would  ren- 
der it  necessary,  from  the  actual  experiment  made  at  the  Bleeck- 
er-street well,  to  have  three  wells  of  equal  depth  and  yield,  to 
supply  each  ward  ;  and  if  we  take  the  result  of  the  city  well,  it 
would  require  six  of  equal  capacity  to  supply  the  demand.  But 
the  question  would  naturally  be  asked,  which  of  these  experiments 
are  to  be  relied  on.    To  solve  it  we  must  recollect,  that  the  ex- 


207  [Doc.  No.  61. 


periment  made  on  the  city  well  was  by  a  steam  engine  of  twelve 
horse  power ;  and  the  water  was  not  only  raised  from  the  well, 
but  deposited  into  the  iron  tank  for  distribution  ;  while  in  the  lat- 
ter experiment,  the  water  was  pumped  from  the  perforation  by  a 
six  horse  power  engine,  but  not  elevated,  and  for  no  considerable 
space  of  time. 

48  The  city  at  this  time,  contains  fifteen  important  wards,  and 
when  this  island  is  covered  with  houses,  it  will  contain  forty-eight 
or  forty-nine  wards.  The  following  calculation  will  show  the  ex- 
pense that  the  city  would  be  put  to  by  adopting  Mr.  Dinsbrow's 
plan,  and  providing  the  works  should  be  as  equally  expensive  as 
the  City  Water  Works. — 1st  On  the  supposition  that  one  well 
would  be  sufficient  for  each  ward  : 


}  $  719,745 


Fifteen  Wells,  Steam  Engines,  Pumps,  Reservoirs, 
and  houses  at  $49,983  each, 

Maintaining  fifteen  Wells  and  Machinery,  equal  to  ^ 

an  investment  of  a  capital  of  $63,300  lor  each,  >  949,500 
at  5  per  cent.  j 


$1,769,245 


On  the  second  supposition  that  three  wells  will  be  necessary  to 
supply  each  ward. 

Forty  five  Wells,  &c.  at  $113,283.    (Cost  of  ) 

Wells  and  investment  of  capital  for  each  >  $  5,097,735 

work)  .  -  -  ) 

On  the  third  supposition  that  six  works  would  be  required  by 
each  ward. 

Ninety  Wells  &c.  at  $113,283  each,  -  $10,195,470 

Now  if  we  extend  this  calculation  to  the  whole  Island  it  would 
stand  : 

On  the  first  supposition — Forty-nine  wards — Cost 

of  supplying  same,  -  $5,437,584 

On  the  second  supposition — Forty -nine  wards,  16,652,701 
On  the  third  supposition — Forty-nine  wards,  -  33,305,402 
It  is  true,  that  by  having  the  reservoirs  so  conveniently  located 
that  something  would  be  saved  on  the  pipes  and  the  mains. 
There  might  also  be  something  saved  on  the  iron  tanks  and  build 
ings.  The  steam  engines  would  be  a  constant  source  of  annoy , 
ance  to  the  neighbourhood  in  which  they  were  located.    And  ii 

3 


J)oc.  No.  61.]  208 


must  also  be  evident,  that  if  the  island  consumed^  for  all  its  uses, 
with  one  million  of  inhabitants,  20,000,000  gallons  of  water,  it 
would  require  on  the  first  supposition  (well  to  yield  120,000  gal- 
lons each)  167  Wells,  which  would  cost,  -  Sl8,9l8,261 
On  the  second  supposition  (44,000  gallons  each  well) 

4j6  Wells,  which  would  cost,         -  -  $50,527,048 

On  the  third  supposition  (well  to  yield  20,000  gallons 

each)  1,000  Wells,  which  would  cost,       -  $113,283,000 

49.  From  the  above  remarks  and  calculations,  it  appears  that 
the  result  of  the  experiment  is  so  doubtful,  its  expenses  so  great, 
and  the  inconveniences  which  would  result  from  it  so  many,  thnt. 
it  would  be  unwise  for  the  city  to  embark  in  the  project. 

50  At  an  earl}7  period  in  the  history  of  the  £ity,  it  was  found 
that  the  well  water  was  deteriorating  in  goodness.  Mr.  Weston  in 
an  able  report  in  1799,  notices  this  important  fact,  and  at  this  day 
it  is  too  evident  to  be  denied.  I  cannot,  therefore,  place  this  sub- 
ject in  a  stronger  light  than  to  quote  the  words  of  a  report  made 
to  the  Lyceum  of  Natural  History  in  1831,  by  several  highly  lite- 
rary and  scientific  gentlemen. 

51.  "  The  sand  bed  of  this  Island  may  be  regarded  as  a  filter, 
or  sponge,  which  under  ordinary  circumstances,  is  filled  with 
fresh  water  from  the  atmosphere.  If  this  spongy  mass  was  itself 
originally  free  from  any  mineral  impregnations,  and  its  surface  al- 
ways open,  the  water  woula1  of  course  remain  pure  for  any  definite 
period,  when  this  filter  itself  contains  any  foreign  ingredients, 
and  the  free  transmission  of  pure  water  is  prevented,  its  quality 
must  be  impaired  ;  from  actual  data,  the  obstacles  to  the  trans- 
mission of  water  from  the  surface  of  dwellings  and  pavements,  are 
estimated  to  carry  off  to  the  river,  nearly  one  half  of  the  water 
from  the  atmosphere.  In  the  neighbourhood  of  large  open  squares, 
it  is  constantly  observed  that  the  wells  are  more  pure,  but  they 
must  sooner  or  later  partake  of  the  same  deterioration.  The 
water  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  Park,  although  very  im- 
pure, is  nevertheless  of  a  better  kind  than  that  of  more  distant 
wells,  and  we  have  been  informed  that  the  well  of  the  Manhattan 
Company  is  mostly  supplied  from  that  quarter.  It  has  also  been 
observed,  that  wells  in  the  Vicinity  of  grave  yards,  communicate 
a  ropy  appearance,  and  the  water  of  such  wells,  become  in  very 
warm  weather  very  offensive  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours.  If  the 
above  tacts  be  well  founded,  we  must  naturally  anticipate  a  dete- 


209 


[Doc.  No.  61. 


rioration  of  our  waters  pari  passa  with  the  increase  of  our  City  ; 
and  we  accordingly, find  this  to  be  the  case.  Until  the  last  few 
years,  the  water  on  the  most  elevated  ground  in  Broadway, 
which  are  now  supplied  through  the  year  with  water  carts  from 
the  country,  and  in  the  direction  of  Laurens-street,  we  have  been 
informed  that  this  foreign  supply  is  required  still  further  north  of 
Broome  street.  But  we  are  now  to  allude  to  another  cause,  which 
must  greatly  impair  the  purity  of  our  waters,  into  the  sand  banks 
underlaying  our  City,  are  daily  deposited  quantities  of  excremen- 
titious  matter,  which  were  it  not  susceptible  of  demonstration, 
would  appear  almost  incredible  ;  with  our  present  population, 
there  is  put  into  the  sand,  about  one  hundred  tons  of  excrement 
in  twenty-four  hours.  In  these  deposits,  we  may  find  all  the  in- 
gredients detected  by  analysis,  and  which  destroy  the  purity  of 
our  waters. 

fi  The  coldness  of  our  pump  water  conceals  the  impurities 
when  swallowed  ;  this  may  be  tested  by  allowing  it  to  stand  until 
it  acquires  the  ordinary  summer  temperature  Its  various  ingre- 
dients then  become  manifestly  palpable.  These  impurities  are 
not  caused  by  the  additional  heat,  they  exist  at  all  times  in  the 
water,  their  presence  is  only  disguised  for  the  moment  by  its 
coldness,  and  its  injurious  properties  are  in  no  wise  diminished. 

"From  whatever  quarter  the  supply  is  obtained,  it  must  be 
from  places  beyond  all  possibility  of  ever  being  surrounded  by  a 
dense  population.  It  must  also  be  secured  in  sufficient  abund- 
ance to  provide  for  the  wants,  not  only  of  the  present,  but  future 
generations." 

52.  I  have  been  informed  that  the  pump  water  is  generally  very 
bad  and  deleterious  in  character,  in  a  line  from  the  Hudson  River 
to  Spring-street,  and  from  thence  to  the  Bowery,  to  the  Third 
Avenue,  and  thence  to  Thirteenth-street  and  the  East  River  In 
the  remaining  parts  of  the  city,  it  is  generally  indifferently  good, 
but  ityis  also  annually  losing  its  purity. 

53.  Many  parts  of  the  City  are  now  supplied  with  water,  brought 
from  the  upper  wards.  On  the  East  and  the  North  River,  in  some 
instances,  it  is  pure,  and  in  others  its  goodness  is  but  little  better 
than  the  present  well  water.  The  tables  of  the  wealthy  are  sup- 
plied from  this  source,  while  our  poorer  classes  have  to  resort  to 
such  wells  or  pumps  as  are  in  their  neighbourhood.  I  therefore 
considered  it  important  to  ascertain  what  the  present  supply  is  : 


Doc.  ]No,  Gl.] 


210 


careful  and  minute  inquiries  were  made,  and  the  result  was,  tha* 
there  is  now  daily  brought  to  the  City  by  drays  or  water  carts, 
six  hundred  hogsheads,  for  which  there  is  paid  one  dollar  and 
twenty-five  cents,  (or  about  two  cents  per  gallon)  for  each  hogs- 
head, or  $750  per  day,  or  $273,730  per  annum,  for  water  from 
that  source.  There  is  also  much  inconvenience  in  obtaining  the 
above  supply,  which  frequently  leads  to  an  increased  expense,  and 
difficulties  in  procuring  it.  The  sum  paid  for  water,  is  also  an- 
nually increasing,  owing  to  Wells  and  Springs,  which  are  now 
pure,  losing  their  goodness.  It  is  also  proper  to  remark,  that  our 
City  as  it  augments  in  population,  the  sources  from  which  it  is 
now  supplied,  will  also  become  impregnated  with  foreign  matter, 
which  will  render  it  necessary  to  resort  to  mote  distant  Springs, 
w  hich  must  very  much  increase  the  expense  of  providing  water. 

54.  Many  of  our  large  hotels  at  this  time,  pay  from  $200  to 
$450  annually,  for  water  ;  and  our  smaller  classes  of  boarding 
and  private  houses,  pay  from  fifteen  to  fifty  dollars  for  the  same. 

55.  I  am  informed  that  our  shipping  are  now  principally  sup- 
plied with  water,  procured  on  Long-Island  at  Brooklyn,  and  a 
small  quantity  from  the  Jersey  shore  and  from  Staten  Island,  and 
some  of  the  steam-boats  and  small  coasting  vessels,  from  the  Man- 
hattan Works  and  the  Pumps  and  Springs  on  the  Island.  Other 
coasting  vessels  and  foreign  packets  and  ships,  provide  themselves 
with  a  sufficient  quantity  abroad,  to  serve  them  for  the  trip,  and  to 
avoid  the  expense  and  detention  of  obtaining  it  in  our  harbour. 
The  daily  averaged  supply  as  ascertained  from  careful  inquiries 
from  Brooklyn  for  three  hundred  and  thirteen  days,  (no  water  is 
delivered  on  Sunday,)  is  equal  to  three  hundred  and  seventy  five 
hogsheads,  (or  23,625  gallons.)  On  this  there  are  two  prices. 
The  first  is  thirty  one  cents  per  hogshead,  when  the  water  is  de- 
livered opposite  to  the  City.  The  second  is  fifty  cents,  when  it 
is  carried  to  vessels  laying  at  the  Quarantine.  It  is  stated  that 
two-thirds  of  the  quantity  is  delivered  opposite  to  the  harbour, 
and  the  balance,  one-third,  is  taken  to  the  Quarantine.  To  the 
above  quantity  is  to  be  added  the  supplies  delivered  at  our  piers 
and  wharves  This  is  supposed  to  be,  from  the  best  information  I 
can  obtain,  equal  to  forty  hogsheads  per  day,  and  is  probably  be- 
low the  true  amount.  The  following  table  will  show  the  actual 
quantity  and  cost  of  the  same  for  a  year. 


211 


[Doc.  No.  61, 


TABLE. 


~ Ho 


s-i  Gallon? 


>gS-i 

heads  de-jper  day 
Hvered 
per  day 


Hogsheads 
delivered 
per  year. 


Gallons  per 
year. 


Cost  ot'i  Amount 
hogshead,  paid  per 
Cents,  day 

I  Dollars 


Amount  paid 
per  year. 
Dollars. 


250 
125 
40 
415 


15,750 
7,749 
2,520 

26,019 


78,250 
39,125 
12,520 

129,895 


4,929,750 
2,464,875 
788,760 
8,183,395| 


31 
50 
50 


77  50 
62  50 
20  00 
|160  00 


24,257  50 
19,562  50 
6,260  00 


50,080  00 


56.  Among  the  plans  which  have  been  urged  on  the  City  to 
obtain  a  supply  of  water,  is  one  from  the  Passaic  River  at  Patter- 
son, either  above  or  below  the  falls.  There  is  in  possession  of 
your  Committee,  two  memoirs  on  that  subject,  by  John  L.  Sulli- 
van, Esq,  Civil  Engineer  ;  also,  an  overture  from  Rosevvell  Colt, 
Esq.  the  governor  of  the  Manufacturing  Company,  stating  the 
conditions  and  the  price  at  which  he  was  willing  the  City  should 
have  the  water,  and  a  proposal  from  Francis  E.  Phelps,  Esq.  for 
the  construction  of  the  works  ;  the  water  to  be  delivered  through 
twenty  eight  inch  iron  pipes  for  $1,932,263.  The  water,  in  his 
proposals,  was  to  be  taken  above  the  falls,  and  passed  under  the 
Hudson  River  by  pipes  laid  on  its  bed.  But  if  we  admit  the 
practicability  of  such  a  n  undertaking,  the  time  which  would  be 
necessary  to  construct  the  work,  and  the  great  expense  which 
would  attend  it,  (as  the  proposal  of  Mr.  Phelps  is  only  for  two 
millions  of  gallons,  and  the  City  now  requires  five  millions,)  and 
with  the  objections  stated  by  that  gentleman,  such  as  the  source 
of  supply  being  within  another  State,  the  danger  of  the  pipes  be- 
ing ruptured  from  drawing  anchors,  and  the  impurity  of  the  water 
of  the  Passaic,  condemns  the  whole  scheme. 

57.  A  plan  similar  in  every  other  respect  with  the  Passaic  project, 
except  the  supplying  point,  and  equally  objectionable,  has  been 
proposed.  It  is  to  take  the  water  from  the  Morris  Canal,  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  inclined  plane  near  Newark. 

58.  it  has  been  strangely  asserted,  by  a  few  otherwise  intelligent 
and  scientific  men,  that  it  was  practicable  to  introduce  into  the  city 
the  water  of  the  Hudson  river,  at  some  point  above  Poughkeep- 
sie,  by  laying  a  train  of  mains  on  the  margin  of  the  Hudson  river. 
In  this  case  there  is  not  over  a  few  feet  fall  in  the  whole  distance, 
and  not  sufficient  to  overcome  the  friction  in  the  pipes  for  one 
mile.  The  pipes  would  also  have  to  be  laid  on  the  beds  of  many 
streams  near  their  mouths,  and  passing  by  rivulets  and  streams  of 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


212 


water  of  great  purity.  The  ice  of  the  Hudson  river  would  also 
sweep  away  or  injure  the  works  in  the  spring.  I  think  we  may 
therefore  pronounce  the  whole  plan  to  be  very  visionary. 

59.  The  investigation  of  such  plans  may  be  interesting  to  scien- 
tific and  enquiring  minds,  but  must  result  in  a  complete  demon- 
stration of  their  impracticability.  I  now,  therefore,  turn  to  an 
examination  of  the  true  sources  from  which  this  city  must  be  sup- 
plied with  water,  if  the  plan  is  intended  to  meet  the  expectations 
of  the  public  and  the  consumption  of  the  city. 

60.  It  is  in  the  county  of  West-Chester  ;  and  from  its  streams, 
its  lakes,  and  its  springs,  that  the  supply  must  be  procured.  The 
water  in  that  county  is  generally  soft,  and  of  chrystaline  purity,  and 
great  coldness.  It  is  on  those  sources  we  must  /ely,  as  the  water 
obtained  must  possess  great  salubrity  in  its  character  to  ensure  its 
use  for  all  the  purposes  of  the  city. 

61.  The  Byram,  the  Bronx,  the  Saw-mill,  and  the  Croton  rivers, 
with  their  numerous  tributaries  and  lakes,  are  the  sources  from 
which  it  has  been  proposed,  at  different  periods,  to  supply  the  city 
with  water ;  and  as  there  exists  much  diversity  of  opinion  among 
our  fellow-citizens  respecting  those  streams,  I  shall  endeavour  to 
place  this  subject  correctly  before  you.  I  only  regret  that  the  limit- 
ed facts  in  my  hands,  will  prevent  me  from  placing  it  as  distinctly 
before  you  as  1  could  have  wished. 

62.  By^am  and  Wampus  ponds  are  the  head  of  the  Byram  ri- 
ver. The  outlets  of  those  ponds  unite  within  three  miles  of  their 
origin.  The  stream  then  flows  in  a  south  westerly  direction :  it 
then  changes  its  course  and  enters  the  state  of  Connecticut,  and 
before  it  passes  into  the  Sound,  forms  a  part  of  the  boundaries  be- 
tween that  state  and  New-York.  It  discharges  into  the  Sound  within 
a  distance  of  twenty-three  miles  of  Little  Barn  Island,  situated  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Harlem  river.  On  this  stream  there  is  much 
valuable  hydraulic  machinery.  The  outlet  of  the  Byram  pond,  I 
have  been  told;  is,  in  some  seasons,  almost  dry,  and,  in  others,  en- 
tirely so.  This  is  not,  however,  often  the  case.  The  lands  around 
the  pond  are  generally  elevated,  except  at  the  outlet :  at  this  point 
the  valley  is  low,  swampj  and  wide.  It  is  singular  that  the  water 
in  the  northern  parts  of  the  pond  is  clear,  and  at  the  outlet,  it  is 
thick  and  muddy.  The  Wampus  pond  is  also  surrounded  by  high 
grounds,  except  at  its  outlet ;  and  the  discharge  from  the  pond  is 
much  more  permanent  and  equal  than  the  other.    The  water  at 


213  [Doc.  No  61. 

the  upper  or  northera  end  is  thick  and  muddy  ;  at  the  outlet  it  is 
clear  and  pure.  The  first  pond  contains  an  area  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  ;  the  second,  fifty -five  acres. 

63.  The  valleys  of  the  Byram  and  the  Bronx  are  separated 
from  each  other  by  a  ridge  of  high  ground,  varying  considerably 
in  its  relative  elevation  An  opinion  of  the  proximity  of  those 
streams  may  be  better  formed,  when  I  mention  the  fact,  that  the 
Wampus  pond,  which  lies  the  most  westerly  of  the  Byram  waters, 
is  within  a  distance  of  one  and  a  quarter  miles  of  the  source  of 
the  main  branch  of  the  Bronx.  They,  however,  keep  diverting 
or  lengthening  the  distance  between  each  other,  until  they  dis- 
charge into  Long-Island  Sound  ;  at  which  point  they  are  eleven 
miles  apart.  Between  their  mouths,  on  the  line  of  the  Sound, 
there  are  several  streams,  such  as  the  Hutchinson  river,  which 
rises  from  a  pond  in  the  vicinity  of  White  Plains,  and  enters 
the  Sound  between  East  Chester  and  Pelham.  Those  streams, 
with  their  branches,  make  the  country  more  or  less  broken,  be- 
tween the  principal  vallies  I  have  before  mentioned. 

64.  The  Bronx  river  is  formed  from  three  principal  branches. 
The  most  southerly  is  the  Sprain,  or  Valentine's  Brook;  and  the 
main  stream,  (which  rises  in  a  swamp  situated  on  the  high-lands, 
which  separate  the  waters  flowing  into  Long-Island  Sound,  and  the 
valley  of  the  Croton,)  and  the  branch  which  flows  from  the  Rye 
ponds.  There  are  also  numerous  other  rivulets  and  springs  flow- 
ing into  the  Bronx,  which,  although  discharging  within  themselves 
but  small  quantities,  augment  considerably  its  waters.  It  is  pro- 
per here  to  mention,  that  owing  to  a  depression  in  the  ridges,  it  is 
practicable  to  introduce  the  waters  of  the  Byram  river  into  the^ 
Rye  ponds.  The  Bronx,  after  passing  through  a  rich  agricultural 
and  improving  country,  the  surface  of  which  presents  to  the  eye 
an  alternate  succession  of  low  valleys,  and  elevations,  and  level 
lands,  flanked  by  ranges  of  higher  grounds  on  the  east  and  the 
west:  it  discharges  into  Long-Island  Sound,  neaVly  opposite  to 
Flushing  bay,#and  distant  about  four  miles  from  Little  Barn  Island. 
The  Rye  ponds  united,  contain  about  two  hundred  and  forty-five 
acres :  they  are  distant  about  thirty-four  and  a  half  miles  from 
the  City-Hall.  These  ponds  present  two  handsome  sheets  of  wa- 
ter, surrounded  by  moderately  elevated  lands,  and  with  principally 
rocky  shores,  except  at  their  upper  ends,  where  there  are  a  few 
acres  of  low  ground,  which  would  be  liable  to  be  overflown  by 

( 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


214 


the  water.  There  are  also  indications  that  the  ponds  have  once 
been  many  feet  higher  than  they  are  now.  The  water  flowing  in 
the  outlet  is  clear,  pure  and  soft,  and  is  principally  supplied  by 
submarine  springs. 

65.  The  face  of  the  country  which  lies  between  the  Bronx  and 
the  Hudson  river,  is  very  much  broken  by  the  valleys  of  different 
streams.  The  southern  slope  of  the  ridge  on  the  Harlem  river  is 
indented  by  the  Morrissenea  and  Mill  creeks  ;  and  the  continua- 
tion of  the  ridge  westerly  is  again  separated  by  a  creek,  which 
lies  nearly  in  a  parallel  line  with  the  course  of  the  Bronx,  and  en- 
ters the  Harlem  river  a  short  distance  west  of  Macomb's  mills.  It 
rises  on  a  low  piece  of  ground,  within  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  of  the  Saw-mill  river,  and  in  fact  separates  those  streams. 
On  the  east  side  of  the  first  stream  are  the  high  grounds  which 
border  on  the  Bronx ;  and  on  the  west,  the  more  elevated  lands 
which  lie  on  the  Hudson  river.  The  small  creek  therefore  des- 
troys the  connection  of  the  ridge  between  the  Bronx  and  the  Hud- 
son as  far  as  the  Saw-mill  valley.  If  we  trace  the  high  ground 
which  lies  on  the  west  side  of  the  Bronx,  from  that  point  we  will 
find  the  first  break  in  it  near  the  Unionville  church,  through  which 
it  is  proposed  to  turn  that  stream  into  its  valley  ;  from  this  point 
the  ridge  becomes  less  elevated,  and  is  at  last  lost  among  the  high 
grounds  which  are  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Croton  river. 

66.  The  first  considerable  stream  we  meet,  in  ascending  the  east 
bank  of  the  Hudson  river,  is  the  Saw-mill :  that  stream  discharges 
within  four  miles  of  King's  bridge :  its  valley  lays  for  a  considerable 
length  of  its  course  nearly  parallel  with  the  Hudson  :  it  then  turns 
abruptly  to  the  wesT,  and  flows  into  the  Hudson  river.  The  sources 
of  the  Saw-mill  originate  on  the  high  grounds  on  which  the  Cis- 
coe,  a  branch  of  the  Croton,  likewise  rises.  On  the  west  and  north- 
west side  of  the  Saw-mill,  extends  a  range  of  elevated  and  broken 
lands,  in  which  originate  many  small  streams,  which  run  in  a  west- 
erly course :  the  largest  is  the  creek  that  enters  the  Hudson  in  the 
vicinity  of  Sleepy-hollow.  On  the  Saw-mill  river,  there  is  much 
valuable  hydraulic  machinery ;  and  I  am  informed,  that  in  dry 
times,  they  have  not  more  than  enough  water  for  the  present  use, 
and  that  the  volume  of  the  stream  has  very  much  decreased  within 
the  last  twenty  years. 

67.  The  Croton  river  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  durable 
streams  in  Westchester  county  :  its  water*  are  uncommonly  pure, 


215  (Doer  No.  61. 


as  they  are  principally  formed  from  springs  and  from  lakes ;  and 
its  branches  and  the  main  stream  flows  over  gravel  and  sand  beds, 
or  over  broken  masses  of  rock  and  compact  sand  stone.  The 
banks  of  the  stream  are  also  generally  high  and  elevated,  and  un- 
forbidding  in  character  to  the  settlement  of  a  dense  population  on 
its  borders.  The  Croton  river  enters  the  Hudson  near  Teller's 
point :  the  principal  branches  are  the  Muscoot,  which  rises  in  the 
Mahapook  pond,  seven  miles  in  circumference,  the  Ciscoe  river, 
the  Cross  river-  the  West  Branch,  with  it  numerous  tributaries,  the 
Titicus,  and  the  East  Branch,  which  rises  in  very  low  grounds  in 
the  town  of  Patterson.  There  are  also  numerous  lakes  and  ponds 
which  lie  at  the  head  of  most  of  the  streams,  and  many  spring 
branches  of  very  pure  and  crystal  waters. 

68.  The  streams  which  fall  into  the  Croton  on  the  southern 
bank,  generally  head  opposite  to  branches  of  the  Saw-mill,  the 
Bronx,  and  the  Byram  rivers,  and  opposite  to  the  sources  of  several 
other  streams,  which  rise  in  Westchester  county,  and  flow  through 
the  state  of  Connecticut  into  Long-Island  Sound. 

69.  In  the  above  description  having  given  a  full  account  of  the 
streams  from  which  water  must  be  obtained,  I  shall  now  turn  to 
the  various  plans  which  have  been  at  different  times  recommended 
or  suggested,  to  obtain  water  from  them  to  supply  the  city. 

70.  In  1798,  Doctor  Joseph  Brown  submitted  to  the  Common 
Council  a  plan  for  supplying  the  city  with  pure  and  wholesome 
water.  This  report  is  accompanied  with  many  profound  remarks, 
exhibiting  his  varied  talents  as  a  mathematician,  a  mechanic,  and 
careful  observer  of  the  hydraulic  works  then  existing  in  Europe. 
But  in  the  practical  demonstration  of  his  plan,  he  was  far  from 
being  successful,  and  his  opinions  on  the  expense  of  the  under- 
taking, and  the  quantity  of  water  then  required  by  the  city,  are 
very  erroneous,  as  will  appear.  He  says  in  his  report,  "  about  half 
a  mile  below  Williams'  Bridge  is  a  piece  of  low  meadow  ground, 
in  which  rises  two  springs,  one  of  which  runs  easterly  and  empties 
itself  into  the  Bronx,  and  not  more  than  four  hundred  yards  from 
its  origin.  The  other  spring  empties  itself  into  the  Harlem  river 
traversing  a  distance  of  about  six  miles.  The  place  on  which  those 
springs  originate,  are  not  more  than  five  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  Bronx  ;  and  sometimes  part  of  the  river,  when  raised  by  a 
considerable  freshet,  has  run  over  part  of  this  meadow  and  emp- 
tied itself  into  ^the  Harlem  river.   From  these  reasons  then  it  is 

4 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


216 


obvious,  that  by  building  a  dam  five  feet  high  across  the  Bronx, 
and  below  where  the  first  mentioned  spring  empties  itself  into,  and 
by  digging  a  canal  four  hundred  yards  in  length  through  the  mea- 
dow, the  whole  of  the  Bronx  might  be  if  necessary  diverted  from 
its  old  route  and  thrown  into  Harlem  river,  and  about  eight  miles 
distant  from  the  City-Hall."  The  spring  to  which  he  alludes,  is 
the  Morrissenea  creek.  The  point  at  which  the  work  was  to  com- 
mence is  fifty  feet  above  tide,  and  the  City-Hall  was  the  old  build- 
ing in  Wall-street.  He  also  says,  "  when  I  first  interested  myself 
on  this  subject,  I  was  in  hopes  a  place  sufficiently  high  might  have 
been  found,  from  whence  the  waters  of  the  Bronx  could  have  been 
conducted  to  New  York,  in  pipes  of  conduit,  without  any  previous 
machinery ;  but  I  am  now  satisfied  no  such  place  exists,  for  al- 
though water  in  an  open  acqueduct  will  run  with  tolerable  fluency, 
having  only  six  inches  fall  in  the  mile,  yet  in  a  pipe,  or  conduit, 
it  requires  five  feet  fall  to  produce  the  same  effect ;  and  even  this 
fall  is  insufficient  where  the  pipe  of  conduit  are  of  considerable 
length,  and  of  small  diameter,  for  the  friction  that  is  occasioned 
by  the  sides  of  the  pipe  of  conduit,  is  in  a  quadruple  ratio  with 
its  length.  Now  as  the  ground  in  the  city  of  New-York,  to  which 
water  ought  to  be  conveyed  to  a  principal  reservoir,  is  about  forty 
feet  above  high  tide,  which  is  ten  feet  Only  below  the  level  of  the 
river  Bronx,  where  it  may  be  diverted,  I  consider  it  a  fall  perfectly 
inadequate  to  any  design  of  conveying  the  water  in  a  line  of  pipes  : 
it  then  becomes  necessary,  that  the  water  of  the  Bronx  should  be 
elevated  by  the  means  of  some  machinery  " 

71.  By  his  plan,  the  water  was  to  be  elevated  eighty  feet  above 
the  level  of  the  Harlem  river.  The  machinery  was  to  be  propelled 
by  the  surplus  water  from  the  Bronx,  which  discharged  twelve 
hundred  cubic  feet  in  a  minute.  He  was  to  have  one  water  wheel 
and  four  pumps  of  six  inches  bore,  which  was  to  supply  362,880 
gallons  of  water  in  day,  a  quantity  which  he  supposed  was  amply 
sufficient  for  the  city.  His  reservoir  was  to  be  at  a  place  called 
the  Dove,  which  then  was  five  miles  from  the  city.  He  estimated 
the  expense  of  all  the  works  at  $200,000. 

72.  I  have  now  to  call  your  attention  to  a  report  made  in  1799, 
by  William  Weston,  a  civil  engineer  of  great  reputation,  to  the 
Honorable  Richard  Varick,  then  Mayor  of  our  city. 

73.  His  plan  was  to  take  the  water  of  the  Bronx  river  at  Loril- 
lard's  snuff  factory ;  to  raise  a  dam  six  feet  high,  which  would 


217        x    [Doc.  No.  61. 


turn  the  water  through  a  low  swamp  into  Mill  brook ;  to  follow  the 
north  bank  for  three  miles,  and  then  to  cross  in  an  acqueduct  to  its 
opposite  side,  and  continue  that  level  to  the  Harlem  river.  He 
states  the  distance  to  be  from  the  Bronx  to  the  Park  14  miles  and 
7  furlongs,  and  the  descent  at  twenty-three  feet.  He  says,  "  It  ap- 
pears from  examinations  that  have  been  recently  made,  that  the 
Bronx  is  sufficiently  elevated  above  the  highest  parts  of  the  city 
to  introduce  its  waters  therein  without  the  use  of  machinery,  and 
the  intermediate  ground,  though  very  irregular,  presents  no  obsta- 
cles which  art  and  industry  may  not  surmount."  He  also  says : 
"  An  absolute  necessity  to  preserve  a  regular  and  uniform  descent, 
leaves  us  little  room  in  the  choice  of  our  route,  which  will  be 
chiefly  along  the  shore  of  the  North  river. 

74.  Mr.  Weston  estimated  that  the  city  would  require  3,000,000 
of  gallons  of  water  a  day.  He  states  that  the  Little  Rye  pond 
contained  fifty  acres,  and  the  Big  Rye  pond,  five  hundred  acres ; 
those  ponds  he  proposed  to  convert  into  reservoirs,  by  building  a 
dam  six  feet  high,  which  would  make  more  than  six  hundred 
acres,  and  would  contain  959,713,920  gallons,  and  would  afford  an 
annual  supply  of  8,000,000  of  gallons  for  one  hundred  and  twenty 
days,  and  leave  a  surplus  of  5,000,000  of  gallons  for  the  mills, 
It  will  however  be  remarked,  that  he  estimated  the  area  of  the 
ponds  double  what -they  actually  are.  His  water  was  to  be  brought 
into  an  open  canal  to  the  Harlem  river :  that  stream  was  to  be 
crossed  by  a  cast  iron  cylinder  of  two  feet  diameter,  with  a  descent 
of  eight  feet.  His  reservoirs  were  to  be  divided  into  three  parts, 
and  two  again  of  them  subdivided.  The  first  two  divisions  he 
called  the  reception  apartments,  which  were  to  be  filled  with  the 
water  from  the  cylinders  ;  while  one  was  filling,  the  other  would 
deposit  the  impure  particles  contained  in  the  water.  In  every 
twenty-four  hours,  one  of  these  chambers  was  to  be  drawn  off  in 
one  of  the  subdivisions,  which  he  called  the  reservoir  of  filtration, 
and  from  thence  into  the  the  division  of  distribution,  after  perco- 
lating through  a  bank  of  gravel  and  loose  sand  :  this  last  division 
of  the  reservoir-was  to  be  arched  over. 

75.  There  was  also  another  plan  considered  by  Mr.  Weston.  I 
allude  to  proburing  a  supply  of  water  for  the  city  from  the  Collect 
pond.  That  measure  he  condemned,  and  as  that  part  of  the 
island  is  now  covered  over  with  a  compact  population,  it  must  be 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


•21b 


unnecessary  to  mention  his  opinions  or  calculations  on  the  sub- 
ject. 

7<>.  The  late  Robert  Macomb,  in  1810,  proposed  to  procure  a 
supply  of  water  for  the  city,  by  using  the  Bronx  river  at  Williams5 
bridge  The  distance,  as  stated  on  his  map,  is  four  miles.  The 
elevation  of  the  Bronx  is  fifty-five  feet.  The  rout  followed  the 
Morrissenea  and  Mill  creek  to  the  Harlem  river.  The  ridge  be- 
tween those  creeks  was  to  be  tunneled,  its  length  was  five  hundred 
and  twent)  yards,  and  the  ground  was  fifty-two  feet  above  the  bot- 
tom of  that  work.  His  plan  is  in  the  office  of  the  Street  Commis- 
sioner. 

77.  Since  1S195  surveys  have  been  made  by  the  authority  of 
the  City,  and  by  the  New- York  Water  Company,  and  as  many 
plans  were  presented,  I  consider  it  my  duty  to  place  them  all  be- 
fore you,  as  I  am  anxious  that  they  should  all  come  under  the 
consideration  of  your  Committee,  to  secure  the  City  from  under- 
taking works  which  must  eventually  lead  to  ^disappointment,  and 
to  unnecessary  expense  in  their  execution. 

7$r  If  we  commence  at  the  Manhattan  Reservoir,  and  follow 
the  line  of  mains  proposed  by  Mr.  White  to  a  reservoir  marked 
number  four  on  his  map,  and  located  between  the  Fifth  and  Sixth 
Avenues  and  42d  and  39th  streets.  The  distance  is  three  and  a 
half  miles,  from  that  point  to  reservoir  number  one,  at  Devoe's 
Point  in  West  Chester  County,  the  distance  is  five  and  three 
quarter  miles,  or  nine  and  a  quarter  miles  from  the  point  of  com- 
mencement. The  distance  from  reservoir  number  one  to  the  cotton 
factory,  on  the  Bronx  river  is  twelve  miles,  and  the  elevation  of 
that  place  above  tide,  according  to  a  late  survey  made  by  Mr. 
Dewey,  is  one  hundred  and  one  and  three  quarter  feet,  and  ac- 
cording to  Mr.  White,  at  Underbill's  mill,  is  one  hundred  and 
thirty-two  and  a  half  feet ;  at  Davis'  bridge,  one  hundred  and 
ninety-eight  feet;  at  the  junction  of  the  Bronx  with  the  branch 
from  Rye  Ponds,  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  feet ;  at  the  Little 
Rye  Pond,  two  hundred  and  eighty-eight  feet ;  and  at  Big  Rye 
Pond,  two  hundred  and  ninety  and  a  half  feet  above  tide.  You 
will  understand  that  the  above  elevations  are  taken  from  a  plan 
made  by  Mr.-  White  in  the  Street  C  jmmissioner's  Office,  and  I 
suppose  are  accurate.  ' 

79-  The  survey  was  extended  from  Rye  Pond  to  the  Byram 
Pond,  in  Connecticut.    Mr.  White_  says,  alluding  to  the  Byram 


219  [Doc.  No.  61. 


River,  w  This  river  can  be  easily  turned  into  Rye  Pond  with  little 
expense,  being  separated  by  a  swamp,  and  a  ridge  of  gravelly 
soil,  through  which  a  tunnel  has  been  constructed  for  the  purpose 
of  draining  a  swamp,  and  by  this  means  the  water  is  conveyed 
into  Rye  Pond,  and  in  high  floods,  some  of  the  waters  of  Byram 
River  passes  through  this  artificial  outlet."  In  his  report,  in 
1826,  he  says,  "  Byram  Pond  is  the  head  of  Byram  River,  al- 
though Wampus  Pond  is  the  principal  source.  Byram  Pond  lies 
much  higher  than  Rye  Pond,  and  a  communication  can  easily  be 
made  between  them  ;  the  distance  is  about  six  miles,  principally 
over  bottom  lands."  He  also  says,  u  The  country  has  been  ex- 
amined, with  a  view  to  connect  Cross  River  with  the  Bronx,  and 
also  to  connect  the  main  Croton  with  the  Bronx  ;  but  the  inter- 
vening ground  has  been  found  too  high  and  rocky  to  accomplish 
this  object."  The  examinations,  therefore,  as  far  as  they  go,  set- 
tles the  question  of  the  practicability  of  uniting  directly  the  main 
branch  of  the  Bronx  or  the  Byram,  or  the  Wampus  Ponds  with 
the  Croton  River. 

80.  In  the  report  of  Mr.  White  in  1824,  he  remarks,  "  A  route 
has  been  surveyed  from  the  Bronx  River  to  the  Saw  Mill  River, 
near  Unionville  church,  and  found  practicable  to  turn  the  waters 
of  that  river  into  the  Bronx,  at  a  moderate  expense  ;  the  deepest 
excavation  necessary  between  the  two  streams  will  be  about  eight 
feet ;  the  route  passes  through  a  swamp,  and  is  designated  on  the 
map  by  a  ied  line." 

81.  The  distance  from  the  Chambers  street  reservoir,  on  Mr. 
White's  map  to  the  point  where  he  was  to  take  the  waters  of  the 
Saw  Mill  River,  is  thirty-four  and  a  quarter  miles.  He  also  re- 
marks, "  that  considerable  time  has  been  expended  in  examining 
the  country  for  the  purpose  of  connecting  the  Croton  with  the 
Saw  Mill  River ;  but  no  route  has  yet  been  found  to  accomplish 
this  at  any  reasonable  expense.  The  examination  has  been  ex- 
tended as  far  up  as  the  Cross  River,  which  unites  with  the  Croton 
about  thirteen  miles  from  Sing  Sing;  perhaps  a  route  may  be 
found  to  connect  the  Croton  with  the  Bronx  or  the  Byram  Rivers. 
But  if  this  cannot  be  effected,  the  Croton  can  be  taken  out  at  a 
sufficient  elevation,  and  conducted  along  the  bank  oj  the  Hudson 
"River  to  the  City."  As  I  have  before  stated  the  routes  which  he 
suggests  in  the  above  remarks,  were  examined  by  him  and  pro- 
nounced unfavorable. 


Doc.  No.  61.]  220 

82.  The  reason  why  Mr.  White  was  unsuccessful  in  his  plan  to 
unite  the  Croton  and  the  Saw  Mill  rivers,  is  owing  to  the  great 
height  of  the  dividing  lidge  between  those  waters, and  the  lowness 
of  the  Croton  valley,  and  to  the  fact  that  he  struck  the  Croton 
river,  at  a  point  which  must  be  more  than  two  hundred  feet  below 
the  summit  of  the  ridge.  In  the  commencement  of  the  examina- 
tion of  the  Sharon  Canal  Company  they  meet  with  the  same  dif- 
ficulties with  Mr.  White's  survey  ;  and  it  was  only  after  repeated 
attempts  that  they  succeeded  in  finding  a  route,  which  presents 
great  difficulties  and  expense,  on  account  of  the  rugged  character 
of  the  lands  over  which  it  passes  ;  and  in  truth,  those  obstructions 
are  so  great,  that  Mr.  Young  the  engineer,  I  am  informed,  for  a 
a  long  time  hesitated  to  give  an  opinion  on  its  practicability.  But 
if  that  survey  can  be  relied  on,  it  demonstrates  the  fact,  that  the 
Croton  and  the  Saw  Mill  valleys  may  be  united,  by  taking  the 
waters  from  Crawford's  Mill,  and  continuing  the  works  on  the 
southern  slope  of  the  Croton  river,  by  embankments,  tunnels,  and 
deep  cuts,  &c.  until  it  enters  the  valley  of  the  fiiscoe  Creek. 

83.  The  height  of  the  dividing  ridge  between  the  Ciscoe  and 
the  Saw  Mill  rivers,  above  tide,  is  probably  420  feet.  From  a  se- 
ries of  levels  made  by  Mr.  Cartwright  of  the  Croton  valley,  and 
politely  furnished  by  him,  it  appears  that  the  Croton  river,  at 
Pines'  Bridge  is  183  feet ;  at  the  Muscoot  Hill  207  feet ;  at  Titi- 
cus  River  Bridge  247  feet ;  at  Owen's  Mill  268  feet,  and  at  So- 
dom 400  feet  above  tide.  By  examiming  these  elevations,  and 
comparing  them  with  the  height  of  the  ridge,  we  will  find  it  is  ut- 
ti  f  ly  hopeless  to  expect  any  other  point  of  departure  than  the  one 
fi\ed  on  by  the  Sharon  Canal  Company  ;  or,  unless  we  resort  to 
very  deep  cutting,  a  long  and  expensive  tunnel,  or  raise  the  water 
by  machinery  from  the  Croton  River,  which  would  be  accompa- 
nied with  great  expense,  as  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ciscoe,  it  would 
be  necessary  to  elevate  it  four  hundred  feet.  The  levels  also  de- 
monstrate what  before  was  stated,  that  it  is  impracticable  to  join 
the  Croton  River  either  with  the  Wampus  or  the  Byram  Rivers, 
unless  we  resort  to  the  same  expedient,  and  pass  into  the  ponds 
on  a  very  elevated  level. 

84.  The  first  plan  presented  by  Mr.  White,  in  his  report  of 
1824,  to  the  Hon.  Stephen  Allen,  was  to  take  the  waters  of  the 
Bronx  ftiver,  at  Williams'  Bridge,  or  at  a  point  about  one  mile 
below,  by  constructing  a  new  dam.  The  route  as  delineated  on 
his  map,  commences  at  the  first  point  and  follows  down  the  valley 


221 


[Doc.  No.  61. 


of  the  Bronx  for  about  one  mile  ;  it  then  diverges  up  the  outlet 
of  a  swamp  for  ten  rods,  and  by  a  cut  of  forty-two  rods  enters  the 
valley  of  the  Morrissiuea  Creek  ;  it  then  pursues  the  west  bank  of 
that  stream  and  to  a  spring  brook,  the  valley  of  which  it  follows 
to  a  ridge  of  rocks  which  seperate  the  Morrissenea  and  the  Mill 
Creek  vallies.  His  route  then  passes  under  the  ridge  by  a  tunnel 
seventy-two  rods  in  length  ;  by  an  embankment  the  line  crosses 
over  to  the  west  bank  of  the  last  stream  ;  it  then  follows  its  val- 
ley, on  steep  side  lying  ground,  to  a  reservoir,  number  one,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Macomb's  Dam. 

85.  Mr.  White  makes  the  following  remark;  "The  distance 
from  Williams'  Bridge  is  about  five  and  a  half  miles,  and  by  de- 
ducting the  proposed  declivity,  will  leave  the  water  at  the  termi- 
nation of  the  canal  near  Macomb's  Dam,  five  and  a  half  feet  above 
the  Park,  and  must  be  raised  to  the  necessary  elevation  of  fifty 
feet  above  the  Park,  which  will  make  forty-four  and  a  half  feet 
to  be  raised  by  machinery." 

86.  Mr  White  proposed  to  have  four  reservoirs,  the  location  of 
number  one  and  four  have  been  stated,  the  other  two  are  not  de- 
fined in  his  plan.  He  states,  that  the  surface  of  the  reservoirs 
on  the  island  could  be  raised  nearly  equal  to  number  one  located 
opposite  to  Macomb's  Dam  in  West  Chester,  and  the  increased 
height  in  the  reservoirs  could  be  used  in  case  of  fires.  They 
would  also  assist  in  relieving  the  friction  of  the  pipes,  and  they 
would  serve  as  a  receptacle  for  all  foreign  matter  which  might  be 
floating  in  the  water.  His  first  reservoir  was  to  hold  four  millions 
of  gallons,  and  the  water  was  to  be  conducted  into  the  others  by 
mains  of  thirty  inches,  and  into  the  Manhattan  Reservoir  by 
mains  of  twenty-two  inches.  His  total  estimate  of  the  expense  of 
number  one  was  $953,011. 

87-  Mr.  White's  second  plan  was  to  take  the  water  from  the 
Bronx  in  the  same  manner  and  route  as  the  first  plan  to  the  Mor- 
rissenea creek :  the  water  was  then  to  be  permitted  to  follow  that 
stream,  and  be  diverted  from  it  on  the  same  route  and  at  the  same 
point  into  the  valley  of  Mill  Brook  :  it  was  then  jo  pass  down  that 
stream  to  a  dam  near  Devoe's  house,  and  a  canal  was  to  be  cut  for 
forty-five  chains  to  the  point  opposite  to  the  reservoir  on  the  first 
route.  On  this  plan  the  water  was  to  be  raised  seventy  feet.  His 
estimate  of  the  expense  of  the  works  was  $920,811  ;  and  in  con- 
clusion, he  remarks,  H  When  we  take  int©  consideration  the  addi- 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


222 


tionaJ  height  which  the  water  must  be  raised,  I  think  the  first  plait 
lias  the  preference." 

88.  In  examining  these  two  plans,  we  cannot  but  help  being 
struck  with  the  surprising  similarity  between  them  and  the  one 
proposed  by  Doctor  Brown,  in  1798,  and  Col.  Robert  Macomb, 
in  1819.  And  we  must  also  say,  that  even  his  third  and  fourth 
plan  has  strong  features  resembling  those  of  Mr.  Weston  in  1799. 
The  opinions  therefore  of  those  eminent  men,  as  far  as  the  prac- 
ticability of  the  work  is  concerned,  is  most  amply  sustained  by  Mr. 
White's  examinations. 

89.  His  third  plan  was,  to  take  the  water  from  the  Bronx  at  the 
West  Chester  Cotton  Factory,  and  to  introduce  it  into  the  city 
without  resorting  to  machinery.  The  water  at  that  point  was 
fifty-six  feet  above  the  Park,  at  the  City  Hall ;  'but  could  be  in- 
creased six  feet,  by  adding  to  the  height  of  the  Dam.  The  dis- 
tance was  twenty  one  and  a  quarter  miles  from  the  Park,  and  the 
work  was  to  have  one  foot  fall  in  the  mile. 

90.  On  this  plan  the  Sprain  or  Valentine's* Brook  lies  south  of 
the  point  of  commencement ;  its  waters  would  therefore  be  lost, 
unless  it  can  be  introduced  by  a  dam,  or  a  lateral  cut.  The 
route,  also,  makes  a  considerable  bend,  when  it  comes  to  its  val- 
ley ;  it  then  follows  the  course  of  the  Bronx,  and  in  a  parallel 
line  with  the  same  vallies  and  streams,  and  routes  of  number  one 
and  two.  Mr.  White,  in  speaking  of  this  plan,  says,  41  Water 
power  is  not  as  objectionable  as  steam,  on  account  of  the  great 
expense  of  the  latter ;  but  both  should  be  avoided  if  possible,  in  a 
work  of  so  much  importance  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  City  ;  for 
if  the  supply  should  fail,  on  account  of  unavoidable  or  unforeseen 
accidents  to  the  machinery,  the  consequence  might  be  extremely 
calamitous,  situated  as  they  are  on  an  Island,  surrounded  by  salt 
water,  and  as  the  Wells  now  in  use,  would  undoubtedly  be  dis- 
continued after  the  introduction  of  good  water ;"  on  account  of 
the  difficult  character  of  the  ground,  and  to  add  to  the  security 
of  his  works,  Mr.  White  proposed  to  construct  a  brick  tunnel  five 
feet  diameter,  and  laid  in  hydraulic  cement.  He  estimates  the 
cost  of  the  works  at  $  1 ,949,542  ;  and  he  says,  "  the  amount  may 
appear  large,  but  it  is  for  a  permanent  work,  that  is  to  endure  for 
ages,  without  a  constant  tax  for  repairs." 

91.  Mr.  White's  fourth  plan,  was  for  an  open  canal,  on  the  ' 
same  route ;  his  estimate  for  that  improvement,  was  #987>535. 


223  [Dog.  No.  6L 


He  remarks,  "  for  this  sum  the  wateF  can  be  delivered  into  the 
Manhattan  Reservoir  without  machinery  ;"  and  "  this  plan  is 
much  the  cheapest,  but  whether  it  is  the  best,  must  be  hereafter 
determined." 

92.  In  connexion  with  the  above  routes,  Mr.  White  surveyed  a 
line  from  his  reservoir  number  one  to  the  Saw-Mill  River.  The 
route  followed  the  east  side  of  the  ridge,  which  lies  between  the 
Bronx  and  the  small  creek  which  enters  the  Harlem  River  south 
of  Macomb's  Mill  at  Kingsbridge  ;  this  survey  was  commenced 
at  Danger's  Mill  on  the  Saw-Mill  River,  and  one  and  a  quarter 
miles  above  the  junction  of  that  stream  with  the  Hudson  River. 
Below  the  line  in  the  Saw-Mill  valley  there  are  five  dams,  at 
which  hydraulic  machinery  is  located  ;  the  length  of  cutting  be- 
tween the  river  and  the  creek  is  one  hundred  and  eight  rods  ;  the 
length  of  the  route  is  nine  miles,  and  the  mill-pond  by  Mr.  White's 
levels  is  one  hundred  and  three  feet  above  tide.  It  is  also  sup- 
posed that  a  higher  level  could  be  maintained  from  the  Saw- Mill 
River,  as  the  route  crosses  many  small  streams  within  a  short  dis- 
tance of  their  mouths.  It  also  passes  over  a  small  stream,  within 
one  mile  of  Macomb's  Dam,  and  within  thirty-two  rods  of  the 
Harlem  River. 

93.  In  1826,  Mr.  White,  after  a  careful  examination  of  the 
country,  and  re-viewing  his  lines  of  surveys  made  in  ,  the  year 
1824,  recommended  to  the  then  New- York  Water  Company,  to 
commence  their  works  at  Underbill's  Bridge,  which  is  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-two  feet  above  tide,  and  about  two  miles  above 
Shaw's  cotton  factory.  The  water  was  to  be  conveyed  in  a  stone 
or  brick  tunnel,  (forming  a  closed  canal)  laid  in  hydraulic  cement, 
as  far  as  the  Harlem  River,  and  from  thence  distributed  through 
iron  pipes.  The  canal  or  tunnel  was  to  pass  along  the  valley  of 
the  Bronx  for  eight  miles,  and  then  westerly  to  the  Morrissena 
Creek,  and  passing  along  the  declivity  of  the  hills  about  two  and 
a  half  miles ;  it  then  branched  into  two  routes,  one  leading  to 
Macomb's  Dam,  or  E^dge,  near  the  termination  of  the  Third 
Avenue,  and  the  other  to  Coles'  Bridge. 

94.  The  length  of  the  tunnel  was  thirteen  and  a  half  miles, 
and  it  was  to  have  a  fall  of  one  and  a  half  feet  in  the  mile.  There 
was  to  be  a  large  reservoir  on  the  West  Chester  side,  and  the 
Harlem  River  was  to  be  passed  by  a  permanent  stone  bridge  to 
support  the  pipes,  and  to  form  a  good  highway.    His  estimate  of 

5 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


224 


the  expense  of  the  works  was  $1,321,000,  exclusive  of  the  sum 
purchase  water  rights  on  the  Bronx,  and  to  pay  damages  for  lands 
used  for  the  works.  And  he  also  says,  "from  the  purchases  al- 
ready agreed  to  he  made,  it  is  not  believed  that  all  subsequent 
ones  will  exceed  $I25,000.  In  1824,  it  will  be  recollected,  that 
Mr.  W  bite's  estimate  from  Shaw's  cotton  factory,  was  $1,949,542, 
or  making  a  difference  of  $6l6,542  in  favor  of  the  last  plan. 

95.  From  the  observations  of  Mr.  Weston,  and  the  surveys  of 
Mr  White,  and  the  location  of  the  Sharon  Canal  by  Mr  Young, 
it  would  appear  that  there  existed  difficulties  ;  but  it  was  practi- 
cable to  conduct  the  water  of  the  Bronx  on  a  sufficient  elevation 
to  supply  the  City,  without  resorting  to  machinery  at  the  Harlem 
River.  But  it  appears  from  a  recent  examination  and  survey 
made  by  Mr.  Dewey  and  Mr.  Serrell  under  the' direction  of  Judge 
AV right,  that  considerable  doubts  exist  on  this  subject.  Those 
gentlemen,  in  a  report  made  in  November  last,  say,  Cl  that  on 
proceeding  from  Macomb's  Dam,  upon  the  high  land  above,  and 
examining  for  a  spot  of  Table  land,  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet, 
containing  three  or  four  acres,  and  capable  of  being  made  a  re- 
servoir, no  such  spot  could  be  found  nearer  than  about  one  and 
three  quarter  miles  from  the  starting  point.  The  distance  be- 
tween that  and  Macomb's  Dam,  is  over  a  very  rugged  line;  mostly 
of  stratified  gneiss  rocks,  dipping  to  the  west,  and  interspersed 
with  hollows,  requiring  considerable  embankments  to  maintain  the 
line  of  a  tunnel  or  open  canal,  but  not  any  where  offering  facili- 
ties of  earth,  or  other  materials  fit  to  aid  in  making  such  em- 
bankments." 

"From  this  point,  the  country  for  near  two  miles  is  tolerably 
open,  and  such  as  does  not  offer  any  extraordinary  difficulties  in 
the  formation  of  a  canal  or  tunnel ;  continuing  the  level  and  en- 
tering the  valley  of  the  Bronx  on  the  west  side,  the  required  line 
could  only  be  obtained  upon  the  face  of  immense  rocky  bluffs, 
separated  by  deep  ravines,  without  any  supply  of  earth,  or  other 
materials,  within  any  reasonable  distance;  and  this  character  of 
country  continues  with  little  variation,  tilr  about  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  above  Underbill's  Bridge,  where  the  land  becomes  so  ex- 
ceedingly abrupt  and  high,  that  it  became  requisite  to  cross  to  the 
eastern  bank  of  the  stream,  before  the  work  of  running  the  level 
could  be  continued  ;  the  level  struck  the  Bronx  at  about  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-six  feet  above  tide,  near  Major  Popham's  Mill,  in 
Scarsdale,  about  sixteen  miles  from  Magomb's  Dam." 


225 


[Doc.  No.  61. 


f<  From  the  character  of  the  country  it  may  be  stated,  that  a- 
3afe  open  canal,  or  closed  tunnel  descending  one  foot  in  the  mile, 
from  a  point  on  the  Bronx,  so  as  to  arrive  on  the  high  land  near 
Macomb's  Dam,  at  an  elevation  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet 
above  tide,  is  wholly  impracticable.'' 

96  One  of  the  most  important  facts  of  the  whole  subject  is  the 
quantity  and  the  permanency  of  the  supply  of  water  I  shall 
therefore  enter  into  a  careful  investigation  of  that  subject,  and 
shall  present  to  your  consideration,  the  guages  made  by  General 
Swift  Canvass  White,  George  W.  Cartwright,  and  Messrs  Dewey 
and  Serrell,  and  with  the  capacity  and  location  of  different  reser- 
voirs proposed  by  these  gentlemen.  The  erroneousness  of  the 
views  taken  of  the  quantity  of  water  in  the  reports  of  Dr  Brown 
and  Mr.  Weston  being  palpable,  it  must  be  unnecessary  to  intro- 
duce them  here. 

97-  Mr.  White,  in  his  report  in  1824,  says,  11  No  extraordinary 
drought  has  occurred  since  I  have  been  engaged  with  the  exami- 
nations, that  would  enable  me  to  guage  the  streams  when  yielding 
the  least  quantity  of  water  ;  but  I  think  sufficient  allowances  have 
been  made  for  dry  seasons."  He  also  observes,  in  his  report  of 
1826;  "  The  long  drought  of  the  past  season  has  been  favorable 
for  guaging  the  streams,  and  ascertaining  the  quantity  of  water 
that  may  be  depended  on  during  similar  seasons." 

98.  In  a  report  made  in  April,  1822,  by  a  special  committee  of 
the  Common  Council,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Allen,  Hammond, 
WyckofF,  and  Mead,  they  say,  "  That  Mr.  Canvass  White,  at 
their  request,  made  an  actual  estimate  of  the  quantity  of  water 
flowing  from  the  Rye  Ponds,  which  appears  was  equal  to  about 
one  million  of  gallons  of  water  in  a  day  ;  that  they  had  ascer- 
tained that  the  ponds  were  never  lower  than  at  the  time ;  and  that 
by  raising  a  dam  at  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  any  given  quantity 
could  be  contained  for  the  use  of  the  city." 

99.  In  September,  1819,  the  outlet  of  the  little  Rye  Pond  was 
guaged  by  General  Swift,  in  the  presence  of  C.  D  Colden,  Doc- 
tor Mitchell,  and  others,  and  by  his  measurements,  it  furnished 
less  than  2  779,920  gallons  in  a  day.  The  ponds  were  then  con- 
sidered moderately  low,  but  not  as  low  as  they  sometimes  were. 

100  It  appears  by  the  report  of  Messrs*.  Dewey  and  Serrell,  in 
November,  this  year,  that  they  also  made  several  guages ;  and 
they  have  likewise  submitted  several  calculations  on  the  drainage 


Doc".  No  61. 


of  the  country  and  the  fall  of  rains,  and  the  capacity  and  supply 
of  the  reservoirs.  But  it  must  be  a  matter  of  extreme  regret  to 
all.  that  their  measurements,  instead  of  confirming  the  labors  of 
their  predecessors,  throw  much  perplexity  on  the  whole  subject, 
and  unless  we  suppose  they  have  guaged  the  streams  after  heavy 
falls  of  rain,  we  can  assign  no  satisfactory  reason  for  the  great  dif- 
ference between  their  statements  and  those  of  others. 

101.  The  three  gauges  made  of  the  outlet  of  Rye  Pond  appear 
to  be  as  follows:  in  1819,  by  General  Swift,  2,779,920  gallons ; 
by  Mr.  White,  in  1822,  1,000,000  of  gallons  ;  by  Messrs.  Dewey 
and  Serrell  4,173,000  gallons. 

102  The  quantity  of  water  which  Mr.  White  stated  as  being- 
available  to  his  works,  in  1824,  and  in  twenty -four  hours,  and  al- 
lowing a  drought  for  six  months,  was  as  follows  : 

From  Bronx  River,  -  -  3,000,000  gallons 

Rye  Ponds  Reservoir,  -  3,600,000  " 

Byram  River,  -  -        4  2,000,000  <c 

Saw  Mill  River,         -  -  2,000,000  " 

Saw-Mill  Reservoirs,  -  1,000,000  " 

11,600.000 

In  speaking  of  the  Saw  Mill  River,  in  1826,  Mr  White  says, 
u  in  gauging  the  stream,  it  was  found  to  be  so  reduced  in  conse- 
quence of  the  drought,  that  no  reliance  can  be  placed  on  it  for 
any  part  of  the  supply."  He  also  abandons  his  plan  of  taking 
the  Byram  River  direct  into  his  works  at  Rye  Pond,  and  proposes 
"  to  cut  a  small  independent  canal  so  as  to  divert  the  reserved  wa- 
ters only,  thereby  avoiding  any  interference  with  the  water  rights 
and  mills  on  the  Byram  River."  If  we  deduct  the  waters  of  the 
Saw-Mill  River  from  the  above,  it  would  leave  the  daily  supply 
8,600,000  gallons  per  day. 

103.  In  1826,  he  placed  the  quantity  as  follows  per  day,  with 
a  drought  of  six  months. 

Bronx  River,          -  -  -  4,302,720  gallons 

Rye  Pond  Reservoir,  -  -  4,798,000  " 

Byram  Pond,  -  -  -  4,335,164  « 

13,435,884 


By  this  calculation  it  appears  that  the  supply  of  running  water 


227  [Doc.  No.  61. 


in  the  Bronx,  had  considerably  increased  in  1826,  by  1,300,000 
gallons;  but  the  total  quantity  of  running  water  stated  by  Mr. 
White,  was  nearly  3,000,000  of  gallons  greater  in  1824,  than  at 
the  present  time.  The  reservoirs  had  also  been  increased  very 
much  in  capacity. 

104  The  calculation  of  the  supply  of  water  as  ascertained  by 
Messrs.  Dewey  and  Serrell,  with  a  sixth  month's  drought  is  as 
follows  : 


Gallons, 

Bronx  River,  at  outlet  of  Little  Rye  Pond, 

.  4,173,000 

Bi^  Rye  Pond  Reservoir, 

.  4,523,539 

By  ram  River,          .       .  . 

.  13,571,000 

By  ram  Pond,  

.  2,756:191 

Wampus  Pond,  

631,627 

Ciscoe  Pond,  ... 

.  7,895,340 

33,549,597 

105.  Of  this  quantity,  there  is  17,744^000  gallons  of  running 
water,  and  15,805,597  gallons  to  be  stored  in  reservoirs ;  and  if 
we  compare  it  with  Mr.  White's  calculation  in  1826,  and  deduct 
8,527,617  gallons  for  the  Ciscoe  and  Wampus  Ponds  Reservoirs, 
which  he  did  not  embrace  in  his  estimates,  it  makes  the  above  cal- 
culation 11,586,696  gallons  greater  than  his  amount  of  water. 
There  is  also  13,441,280  gallons  more  of  running  water,  than  Mr. 
White  made  in  1826,  and  the  volume  of  the  Byram  River  has 
swelled  from  2,000,000  of  gallons,  its  minimum  discharge,  to 
13,571,000  gallons-  It  must  also  be  remarked,  that  Mr.  Dewey's 
reservoir  in  Rye  Pond,  falls  274,461  gallons  short  of  the  quantity 
stated  by  Mr.  White  in  1826,  although  he  raises  the  pond  four 
feet  higher  than  the  other,  and  his  quantity  exceeds  his  calcula- 
tion of  1824,  923,539  gallons.  It  is  true,  that  the  ponds  that 
year,  were  only  to  be  raised  eight  feet.  There  is  a  difference 
also  in  the  calculations  in  the  areas  of  the  reservoirs  of  twenty 
acres.  It  must  also  be  remarked,  that  the  capacity  of  the  Byram 
Pond  Reservoir  is  short  of  Mri-White's  quantity  by  1,577?973  gal- 
lons, and  the  Byram  and  the  Wampus  Reservoirs  united,  fall  short 
of  Mr.  White's  Byram  Pond  Reservoir,  946,346  gallons.  I  must 
leave  it  to  your  Committee  to  reconcile  the  conflicting  calcula- 
tions of  those  gentlemen. 


Doc.  No.  61.]  ^28 


106.  The  Ciscoe  Reservoir,  as  introduced  by  Messrs.  Dewey 
and  Serrell,  is  a  new  storing  point,  named  by  them,  and  I  believe 
never  contemplated  before.  Mr.  Dewey  says,  u  I  then  proceeded 
up  the  valley  of  the  Ciscoe,  which  discharges  its  waters  into  the 
Cioton  near  Pine's  Bridge.  This  river  has  its  main  source  in  a 
large  pond  in  an  extensive  valley,  at  the  outlet  of  which  are 
Kuby's  Mills."  "  By  raising  the  dam  at  the  outlet  seven  fe  ;t,  I  am 
assured  by  the  proprietor,  that  one  thousand  acres  can  be  ponded, 
and  the  water  will  fl  nv  near  to  the  north  easterly  side  of  Wampus 
Pond.  I  assume  then,  five  hundred  acres  only  may  be  overflown, 
and  all  low  wet  land  of  little  value  n  It  would  thus  appear  that 
the  owner  of  the  (Mills  conjectured  the  number  of  acres,  and  Mr. 
Dewey  reduces  it  one  half.  He  also  says,  -'that  the  wafers  of  the 
Ciscoe  can  be  connected  with  the  east  branch  of  the  Saw-Mill  River 
by  a  canal  or  tunnel  of  about  two  and  a  half  miles  in  length  The 
ground  is  favorable ;  but  one  deep  cut  will  be  necessary,  about 
six  hundred  feet  long,  and  twenty  feet  deep."  »But  after  the  wa- 
ter is  once  in  the  Saw-Mill  Valley,  it  requires  another  cut  and  a 
dam,  or  the  continuation  of  the  works  from  the  Ciscoe  Pond  to 
the  Bronx  River,  which  on  the  whole  must  increase  the  hazard 
and  expense  of  its  introduction.  How  much  easier,  in  all  senses, 
would  it  be  to  let  this  water  pass  into  the  Croton  Vallev.  through 
its  natural  outlet,  instead  of  attempting  to  divert  it  into  new  chan- 
nels. 

107.  How  much  water  could  be  procured  from  the  Croton  Ri- 
ver Valley  by  continuing  a  work,  to  the  east  branch,  I  have  no 
means  to  determine.  It  is  however  certain,  that  the  expense  of 
that  operation  would  be  very  great,  and  the  supply  of  water  com- 
paratively small,  as  the  route  would  cross  all  the  streams  a  great 
way  above  their  mouths.  This  plan  would  also  be  very  destruc- 
tive to  mill  property,  and  hydraulic  sites. 

108  It  is  evident  if  we  should  extend  our  works  to  the  Rye 
Ponds,  we  should  cut  off  a  very  considerable  supply  of  water  from 
other  branches  and  springs  of  the  Bronx  River.  And  if  we  should 
go  to  any  point  on  the  stream  below  UnderhilFs  Bridge,  we  would 
have  to  resort  to  machinery  to  raise  the  water  at  the  Harlem  Ri- 
ver, to  carry  it  to  the  elevated  parts  of  the  City  and  the  Island. 
If  we  agree  that  the  last  plan  recommended  by  Mr  White,  would 
be  the  proper  course,  our  supply  from  the  Bionx  and  the  Byram, 
Rivers  would  be  as  follows.    By  taking  the  minimum  calculations 


22» 


[Doc.  No.  61. 


of  Mr.  White,  and  those  of  Messrs.  Dewey  and  Serrell,  and  re- 
jecting the  running  waters  of  the  Byram  River,  which  Mr.  White 
has  shown  we  could  not  take,  unless  we  destroyed  immense  hy- 
draulic privileges  and  machinery. 

Bronx  River  running  water,       .       .       4,302,7?0  gallons^ 
Rye  Ponds  Reservoirs,  .       .       4,793.000  " 

Byram  Pond  Reservoir,  .       .       2,756,191  " 

W  ampus  Pond  Reservoir,         .       .         631,627  u 

Quantity  of  water  in  24  hours,  .  12,488,538 

109.  But  you  may  inquire,  why  I  have  not  included  the  Ciscoe 
and  the  Croton  Rivers.  To  this  I  must  reply,  by  stating,  that  it 
would  be  much  easier  to  take  those  waters  at  Pine's  Bridge,  than 
to  turn  them  into  the  valley  of  the  Bronx  ;  and  it  must  be  appa- 
rent, that  although  it  may  cost  many  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
dollais  to  mingle  them  together  with  the  latter,  that  in  the  Croton 
'Valley,  they  are  the  free  offerings  of  Nature,  without  resorting  to 
artificial  works  to  obtain  them. 

110.  The  above  summary  is  a  favorable  view  of  the  quantity  of 
water  ;  but  it  now  becomes  necessary  to  inquire  if  we  could  with 
safety  calculate  on  the  whole  amount.  Suppose  our  low  stage  of 
water  should  continue  more  than  six  months,  or  that  any  misfor- 
tune should  happen  to  the  bulkheads  at  the  outlets  of  the  Ponds, 
or  derangement  in  the  pipes,  or  any  other  parts  of  the  work,  or 
that  there  should  be  a  great  loss  of  water  during  a  drought,  by 
breakage,  &c  I  would  inquire,  in  what  manner  we  could  augment 
our  supply,  until  the  Autumnal  or  Spring  rains  set  in  ?  These 
are  contingencies  that  may  happen  ;  and  what  I  now  propose  to 
examine,  is  the  evaporation  on  the  reservoir  and  the  loss  of  water 
which  will  take  place  in  its  flow  from  the  reservoirs  to  the  canal 
or  tunnel  at  Underbill's  Bridge. 

111.  You  must  be  aware  of  the  nature  of  the  artificial  reservoirs 
which  are  to  be  created  in  the  ponds.  They  are  to  be  filled  with 
water  when  the  streams  are  full,  and  to  be  drawnoff  when  the  na- 
tural supply  of  the  Bronx  is  not  equal  to  the  consumption  of  the 
City.  When  the  Bronx  is  thus  low,  and  its  branches  and  chan- 
nels almost  dry,  the  sluices  are  to  be  opened  in  the  bulkheads  of 
the  reservoirs  and  their  waters  permitted  to  pass  down,  until  they 
reach  the  dam  at  Underl  ill's  Bridge  :  it  is  then  turned  into  the 
canal  or  tunnel,  and  conducted  to  the  City  for  its  nses.    At  the 


Doc.  No.  61j 


230 


time  that  the  water  will  be  drawn  from  the  reservoirs,  the  cori- 
sumption  will  be  the  greatest  in  the  city,  owing  to  its  dusty  con- 
dition, to  cleanse  the  streets  and  to  puiify  the  air.  There  will 
also  be  a  diurnal  loss  of  water,  proceeding  from  the  evaporation 
from  the  surface  of  the  reservoirs,  and  from  the  loss  of  the  water 
flowing  through  the  sluices  of  the  reservoirs  until  it  enters  the 
pipes  on  the  island,  and  the  absorptions  of  the  soils  through  winch 
it  passes.  I  suppose  that  this  loss  will  be  equal  to  a  depth  of  two 
feet  on  the  surface  of  the  reservoirs,  and  to  a  column  of  water  in 
its  passage  from  each  reservoir  equal  to  four  feet  in  depth  and 
fifteen  feet  wide,  for  the  time  that  the  reservoirs  would  be  requir- 
ed to  be  used,  say  six  months  in  the  year.  On  an  acre  of  pond 
the  annual  evaporation  would  be  162,926  gallons^  or  895  gallons 
would  be  lost  on  an  average  daily  for  182  days.  In  a  mile  of 
channel  the  annual  loss  would  be  296,228  gallons,  and  in  the  same 
period  with  the  other,  1,633  gallons  per  day.  This  calculation 
would  not  properly  apply  to  the  works  leading  to  Underbill's 
Bridge  ;  in  which  section  the  loss  would  be  much  less.  If  we 
suppose  it  equal  to  two  feet  in  depth,  it  gives  815  gallons  in  each 
mile  of  its  length. 

Gallons. 

The  distance  to  Underbill's  Bridge  from  Macomb's 

Dam,  131  miles  X  815  gallons,  -  -  -  11,102 
From  Underbill's  Bridge  to  reservoir's  outlet  of  Rye 

Ponds,  12£  miles  X  1,633  gallons,  -  -  -  20,412 
Surface  of  Rye  Ponds  Reservoirs,  245  acres  X  895 

gallons,  219,275 

From  Underbill's  Bridge  to  Byram  Pond  Reservoir, 

19|  miles  X  1,633  gallons,  -  31,843 
Surface  of  Byram  Pond  Reservoir,  120  acres  X  895 

gallons,   107,400 

From  Underbill's  Bridge  to  Wampus  Pond  Reservoir, 

19^  miles  X  1,633  gallons,  ...  -  31,843 
Surface  of  Wampus  Pond  Reservoir,  55  acres  X  895 

gallons,   49,225 

Total  loss  by  evaporation,  soakage,  &c.  471,100 

If  we  subtract  this  from  12,488,538  gallons,  it  leaves  us  a  cer- 
tain quantity  of  12,017,438  gallons,  unless  in  case  of  an  accident 
eccurring  to  the  works. 


231  [Doc.  No.  6L 


112.  It  may  appear  strange  to  some  of  your  Committee,  that 
the  minimum  flow  of  water  is  taken  as  the  criterion  to  predicate 
our  calculations  on  ;  but  if,  for  instance,  our  consumption  should 
be  more,  and  we  should  take  any  quantity  above  the  smallest 
volume  of  the  stream,  it  is  plain,  the  moment  it  fell  below  the  re- 
quired quantity,  we  should  have  to  draw  from  the  reservoirs,  or 
they  would  have  to  make  up  the  deficiency  in  the  supply ;  and 
therefore,  although  the  stream  at  certain  periods  might  yield  ten 
times  the  quantity  we  required,  if  we  had  no  means  to  collect 
those  waters,  they  would  not  in  the  remotest  degree  assist  us, 
when  it  fell  below  the  quantity  we  consumed. 

113.  It  must  also  be  recollected,  that  although  we  have  bv  the 
assistance  of  reservoirs,  swelled  our  quantity  to  12,027,438  gallons, 
and  we  have  only  4,302,720  gallons  of  running  water,  on  which 
we  can  depend  in  case  of  accidents  to  the  reservoirs.  It  has  been 
suggested,  that  this  quantity  may  be  increased  by  constructing 
reservoirs  in  the  valley  of  the  Bronx.  It  is  true,  that  dams  could 
be  built,  and  ponds  formed,  but  they  would  all  be  shallow,  owing 
to  the  rapidity  with  which  the  bed  of  the  stream  rises.  Those 
dams  would  also  necessarily  be  high,  for  if  low,  the  capacity  of 
the  pond  will  be  small  ;  the  expense  of  their  construction,  and 
the  risk  of  their  maintenance  would  therefore  be  increased,  and 
the  damage  to  private  property  be  very  great ;  and  if  it  should 
unfortunately  happen  that  one  of  the  dams  should  be  swept  off 
by  ice  or  by  floods,  its  fragments  and  the  water  collected  in  the 
pond  might  sweep  off  the  whole  of  the  lower  works.  Accidents 
of  a  similar  nature,  annually  happen  on  most  of  all  our  mill 
streams. 

114.  Mr.  White  in  his  report  in  1824,  says,  "It  has  been  as- 
certained by  experiments  made  at  Philadelphia,  that  twenty-seven 
gallons  per  day  for  each  person/  is  sufficient  for  the  demands  in 
Summer,  and  this  includes  the  amount  used  for  all  purposes  of 
manufacturing  for  brewers,  tanners,  livery-stables,  and  for  washing 
the  gutters,  &c."  In  1826,  he  allowed  twenty  gallons  on  an  ave; 
rage  throughout  the  year,  and  I  am  perfectly  satisfied  of  the  cor- 
rectness of  the  data,  as  it  agrees  with  some  investigations  I  have 
made  of  the  quantity  of  water  consumed  in  other  cities. 

115.  It  must  be  recollected,  that  we  cannot  increase  the  supply 
of  running  water  in  the  valley  of  the  Bronx,  unless  we  commit 
great  mischief  to  the  country,  and  pay  immense  damages  for  hy- 

6 


I>oc.  No.  CI.]  232 


draulic  works.  Our  only  course  on  that  route,  is,  therefore,  to  re- 
sort to  the  valley  of  the  Croton.  This  plan  must  be  attended 
with  great  difficulties  and  expense;  for  to  secure  it,  we  have  to 
construct  a  continuous  line  of  works,  sixty-two  and  a  quarter  miles 
in  length  between  the  City-Hall  and  the  east  branch  of  the  Cro- 
ton River. 

116  Mr  White  states  in  his  report  of  1826,  that  the  running 
wnterinthe  Bronx  was  equal  to  a  supply  for  215,130  persons, 
which  is  below  the  present  population  of  the  city.  If  we  add  to 
this  the  Rye  Ponds,  and  the  By  ram  and  the  Wampus  Reservoirs, 
it  would  be  equal  to  a  supply  for  600,000  people,  and  will  be  suf- 
ficient to  provide  for  the  demands  of  the  City  for  twenty-five  or 
twenty-eight  years  to  come  ;  after  that  period,,we  must  resort  to 
the  Croton  River.  I  now  therefore  propose  to  examine,  if  it  is 
not  better  to  do  it  at  this  time,  than  to  postpone  it  to  a  later  pe- 
riod. 

117  If  we  turn  our  eye  to  the  plan  recommended  by  Mr. 
White  in  i826,  to  secure  the  supply  of  water  from  the  Bronx,  we 
find  it  necessary  to  construct  a  canal  or  tunnel,  through  a  very 
difficult  and  expensive  country  to  Underbill's  Bridge.  The  dis- 
ance  is  thirteen  and  a  half  miles.  At  that  point  it  would  be  ne- 
cessary to  construct  a  dam,  and  sluices,  gates,  &c  ;  At  the  Rye 
Ponds,  34  miles  from  the  city,  we  also  find  another  dam,  sluices, 
&t\  following  the  line  to  Byram  Pond,  a  canal  or  close  tunnel 
would  have  to  be  constructed  seven  miles  in  length,  and  a  branch 
to  the  Wampus  Pond,  three  miles  more;  and  at  the  outlets  of 
each  of  those  ponds,  dams  and  sluices  would  also  have  to  be  pro 
vided.  Those  ponds  are  forty-one  miles  from  the  City  Hall,  as 
measured  on  the  route  of  the  work.  We  have,  therefore,  twenty- 
three  and  a  half  miles  of  canal,  four  dams,  and  four  sets  of  sluices, 
besides  overflewing  and  destroying  much  land,  and  paying  great 
damages  for  diverting  and  using  the  waters.  The. expense  of  all 
these  works,  and  unavoidable  damages  to  property,  must  be  very 
great,  and  the  cost  of  their  maintenance  and  superintendance 
equally  so.  A  question  more  serious  presents  itself,  in  relation  to  di- 
verting the  waters  of  the  Byram  and  Wampus  Ponds  into  Rye  Pond 
reservoir.  Those  Ponds  lay  at  the  head  of  a  stream  which 
flows  through  the  State  of  Connecticut  ;  and  it  is  questionable  at 
lea*t;  it  we  could  change  those  waters  from  their  channels,  without 
first  obtaining  the  sanction  of  that  State. 


233  [Doc.  No.  61 


118.  In  a  former  part  of  my  communication,!  have  given  a  de- 
detailed  account  of  theCroton  Valley,  and  its  tributaries,  and  also 
the  elevations  of  the  stream,  as  furnished  by  Mr.  Cartwright  I 
shall  now  present  his  guages  of  the  Main  Valley,  and  many  of  its 
branches.  u  The  east  branch  of  the  Croton  River,  above  Mill- 
town,  on  the  1 6th  of  October,  1822,  discharged  5,35^,800  gal- 
lons of  water  in  twenty-four  hours ;  but  that  stream,  in  a  very 
dry  season,  has  been  known  to  run  through  an  aperture  seven 
inches  square.  The  west  branch  of  the  Croton,  at  its  euti  ance 
in  West  Chester,  on  the  25th  of  July,  1825,  emitted  12,50o  000 
gallons.  The  Mahapook  Pond  2,000,000  gallons,  and  the 
Mountain  Pound  588,300  gallons,  guaged  30th  of  August,  1825. 
In  the  Croton  River  at  Pine's  Bridge,  there  is  never  less  than 
20,000,000  of  gallons  of  water  passing  in  every  twenty-four 
hours."  The  river  at  this  point  is  therefore  capable  of  supply- 
ing one  million  of  people,  allowing  a  consumption  of  twenty  gal- 
lons to  each  person.  This  supply  can  be  augmented  by  con- 
structing reservoirs,  and  we  have  seen  by  Mr.  Dewey's  statement, 
that  one  reservoir  could  be  constructed  which  would  supply  more 
than  seven  millions  of  gallons  per  day,  within  a  few  miles  of  Pine's 
Bridge.  But  if  it  were  necessary,  more  than  seven  thousand  acres 
could  be  ponded,  and  the  water  raised  from  six  to  sixteen  feet  on 
it ;  and  also  other  supplies  could  be  obtained,  as  I  have  betore 
stated  in  alluding  to  the  Sharon  Canal  route,  and  the  east  branch 
of  the  Croton  River.  This  supply  may,  therefore,  be  considered 
as  inexhaustible,  as  it  is  not  at  all  probable  that  the  City  will  ever 
require  more  than  it  can  provide.  The  character  of  the  waters  at 
Pine's  Bridge,  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying,  is  equal  to  the 
Bronx  at  Underbill's  Bridge. 

119.  The  elevation  at  Pine's  Bridge  by  Mr.  Cartwright's  mea- 
surement, is  183  feet  above  tide.  I  would  propose  at  this  point 
to  sink  the  bottom  of  the  works  below  the  bed  of  the  stream,  to 
avoid  the  risks  of  a  dam,  and  more  fully  to  command  the  whole 
volume  of  water,  if  necessary.  Sluices  with  gates  should  be  pro- 
vided, and  also  other  contrivances  to  prevent  any  impurities 
from  the  stream  passing  into  the  works. 

120.  From  Pine's  Bridge  the  route  would  follow  the  elevated 
and  broken  banks  of  the  Croton,  until  it  intersected  the  bank  of 
the  Hudson  River.  It  would  then  continue  on  the  rugged  slope 
of  the   lands  in  the  vicinity  of  that  stream  to  Tarrytown,  about 


Doc.  No,  61.]  234 


eleven  miles  from  the  point  of  commencement.  In  this  distance 
it  would  be  necessary  to  cross  the  Valley  of  Sleepy  Hollow,  and 
several  considerable  ravines,  and  gulfs  formed  by  springs  and 
brooks.  The  route  would  have  to  be  conducted  meanderingly 
round  them  ;  or  they  may  be  crossed  in  a  straight  line  by  em- 
bankments, pipes,  or  aqueducts.  From  Tarrytown  the  ground 
may  be  considered  favorable,  although  principally  a  steep  side 
liil!  to  the  mouth  of  the  Saw-Mill  River,  a  total  distance  of  twenty 
miles.  From  the  Saw-Mill  River,  the  route  could  either  follow 
the  northern  bank  of  the  stream  to  Danger's  Mill,  a  distance  of 
one  and  a  quarter  miles,  and  continue  on,  or  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
route  surveyed  to  Macomb's  dam,  by  Mr.  White,  a  distance  of 
nine  miles,  and  there  cross  the  Harlem  River ;  or  it  would  cross 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Saw-Mill  River,  and  follow  the  bank  of  the 
Hudson  to  the  Harlem  River,  and  cross  that  stream  a  short  distance 
above  its  mouth,  and  reach  on  the  opposite  side,  very  rocky, narrow, 
and  elevated  ground  laying,  directly  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson 
River.  This  ridge  is  broken  in  a  short  distance  in  its  continuation 
south,  by  a  ravine,  or  hollow,  which  crosses  the  road  to  King's 
Bridge,  near  Crawford's  tavern.  The  line  would  be  forced  to 
pass  over  it,  to  reach  the  elevated  lands  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort 
Washington  ;  and  the  first  reservoir  on  the  Island  would  be  con- 
structed near  Madam  Jumel's.  The  other  reservoirs  ought  to  be 
placed  on  the  elevated  ground  on  different  parts  of  the  Island. 
The  distance  from  the  Saw-Mill  to  the  Harlem  River,  is  about  six 
miles,  and  from  that  stream  to  the  reservoir  is  four  miles,  making 
the  whole  length  of  the  route  thirty  miles  to  Madam  Jumel's,  and 
the  one  to  Macomb's  dam  is  thirty  miles  and  a  quarter. 

121.  I  must  say,  that  the  routes  present  great,  but  not  insur- 
mountable impediments.  In  some  places  the  works  may  be  very 
expensive,  and  in  others  very  cheap  ;  and  I  have  seen  nothing  in 
the  character  of  the  routes,  but  what  perseverance  and  skill  can 
overcome.  It  will,  however  be  necessary,  that  a  minute  and  care- 
ful survey  should  be  made,  to  determine  fully  the  difficulties  of 
construction.  The  expense  of  the  work  will  also,  in  a  great  de- 
gree, depend  on  the  plan  of  crossing  the  vallies,  some  of  which 
are  wide  and  deep.  Many  modes  ought  to  be  examined ;  such 
as  stone,  wood,  and  iron  arches,  supporting  pipes  or  elevated 
and  open  aqueducts ;  low  and  high  embankments  supporting 
pipes,  or  the  embankments  being  sufficiently  elevated  to  conduct 


235  [Doc.  No.  61. 

the  works  over,  without  depressing  them  more  than  the  required 
fall  ;  and  also  carrying  the  works  circuitously  around  the  vallies, 
and  other  matters  connected  with  the  construction  of  the  works. 

122.  The  elevation  of  the  Croton  at  Pine's  Bridge  being  183 
feet,  and  the  bottom  of  the  work  being  sunk  six  feet  below  the 
bed  of  the  river,  it  leaves  177  feet ;  and  if  the  line  from  that  point 
should  descend  uniformly  one  and  a  half  feet  in  the  mile,  the 
Saw-Mill  River,  on  the  first  route,  would  be  crossed  at  Danger's 
Mill,  at  an  elevation  of  42|  feet  above  that  stream.  On  the  low- 
er route  it  would  require,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Saw  Mill  River,  a 
work  147  feet  high.  At  the  Harlem  River,  on  either  of  the  routes 
an  aqueduct  138  feet  high  and  1000  feet  long  ;  and  over  the  low 
ravine  at  Crawford's  Tavern,  a  work  115  feet  in  height.  It  is  ap- 
parent that  these  elevations  could  be  reduced  by  resorting  to 
pipes  sustained  on  low  arches,  instead  of  the  open  aqueduct.  This 
plan  would,  however,  much  depress  the  heights  of  the  reservoirs 
on  the  Island,  on  account  of  the  friction  in  the  pipes.  It  is  true, 
a  higher  starting  point  on  the  Croton  could  be  obtained,  which 
would,  perhaps,  obviate  all  fears  on  that  subject.  But  it  remains 
to  be  seen  if  that  would  be  the  most  economical  plan.  These 
facts  cannot  be  settled,  and  the  height  that  the  water  from  the 
Croton  can  be  delivered  on  the  Island,  must  remain  in  some  doubt 
until  after  an  actual  survey.  I  have,  however,  strong  confidence 
in  the  practicability  of  delivering  it  at  138  feet  above  tide,  and  it 
would  admit  of  the  bottom  of  the  reservoir  being  120  feet,  pro- 
vided it  was  18  feet  in  depth. 

123.  It  must  be  recollected,  that  although  the  elevations  of  the 
aqueducts  would  be  very  great,  to  continue  the  works  with  an 
uniform  descent  from  the  Croton,  they  would  not  be  as  expensive 
asja  canal  aqueduct,  or  as  a  public  stone  or  iron  arched  bridge  ;  for 
although  the  lower  parts  of  the  piers  would  require  solidity  for  the 
first  twenty  or  thirty  feet,  to  withstand  the  pressure  of  the  stream 
and  floating  masses  which  would  impinge  against  it.  All  the  work 
above  that  point,  need  not  possess  greater  strength  than  to  sustain 
the  thrust  of  the  arches,  and  the  weight  of  materials,  and  of  the 
water  in  the  trunk  of  the  work.  The  stone  to  be  used  would  be 
West  Chester  marble  and  granite,  both  of  which  are  convenient  to 
the  works. 

124.  If  a  medium  level  should  have  to  be  resorted  to,  on  ac- 
count of  unforeseen  difficulties  in  the  execution  of  the  work  ,*  the 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


236 


water  would  then  have  to  be  elevated  by  machinery  on  the  Island, 
at  the  Harlem  River.  In  such  a  contingency,  you  have  the  tide 
power  of  that  stream,  the  waters  of  the  Bronx,  on  Doctor  Brown's 
plan,  and  steam  engines.  All  tluse  modes  require  careful  investi- 
gations to  determine  which  is  the  best.  If,  however,  the  water 
could  be  introduced  on  the  Island,  so  as  to  supply  parts  of  the 
City,  it  might  be  raised  by  steam  engines,  situated  at  the  reser- 
voirs, to  the  more  elevated  sections. 

125.  The  reservoirs  ought  to  have  capacity  to  contain  a  supply 
of  water  sufficient  for  the  consumption  of  the  City  for  many  days, 
so  as  to  have  a  quantity  on  hand  to  provide  against  any  misfor- 
tune happening  to  the  works.  These  reservoirs  ought  not  to  be 
confined  to  the  Island  but  several  should  be  ^located  in  West 
Chester ;  and  many  of  the  vallies  on  the  route  are  admirably  cal- 
culated for  that  purpose.  There  will  also  be  other  benefits  result- 
ing from  this  system  of  reservoirs,  which  you  must  plainly  see 

126.  It  appears  that  many  advantages  are  possessed  by  the 
Croton  plan  over  the  Bronx.  1st.  In  its  supply  of  running  water, 
which  is  five  times  greater  than  in  the  latter.  2d.  In  the  capacity 
of  its  reservoirs,  which  are  seventeen  times  greater.  3d.  In  the 
security  of  the  works  and  expense  of  superintendance,  as  it  re- 
quires no  dams  and  but  one  set  of  sluices  ;  while  the  latter  re- 
quires four  dams  and  four  sets  of  sluices.  4th.  In  the  little  injury 
it  does  to  hydraulic  works  and  private  property,  compared  with 
the  Bronx  plan.  5th.  The  route  also  passes  through  a  country 
which  can  never,  from  its  character,  be  densely  populated  or 
much  cultivated  ;  while  the  other  route  passes  through  a  rich 
country,  susceptible  of  a  dense  population  ,  and  if  we  include  the 
whole  extent  of  necessary  canals  or  tunnels  to  obtain  the  full  sup- 
ply from  the  Bronx  River  with  the  plan  of  the  Croton,  the  differ- 
ence in  the  extent  of  the  construction  of  the  canal,  is  only  six 
and  one  half  miles  in  favor  of  the  former.  The  Croton  River  re- 
quires a  continuous  work  to  introduce  it  on  the  Island  ;  while  the 
latter  will  be  constructed  in  detached  pieces.  The  waters  of  the 
Croton  are,  however,  three  miles  nearer  the  City-Hall  than  those 
of  the  Byram  or  Wampus  Ponds.  And  there  can  be  no  question, 
that  the  waters  of  the  Croton,  when  delivered  on  the  Island,  after 
passing  through  its  continuous  and  neat  channel,  will  be  much 
purer  than  those  of  the  Rye,  and  Byram,  and  Wampus  Ponds, 
which  would  flow,  for  a  great  part  of  their  distances,  through  the 


237 


[Doc.  No.  61. 


natural  channels  of  the  Bronx,  and  become  contaminated,  by  mix- 
ing with  inferior  waters  and  other  impurities,  in  their  descent  to 
Underfill's  Bridge. 

127  It  may  be  urged,  that  it  would  not  be  necessary  for  some 
years  to  Come,  to  go  beyond  the  Rye  Ponds  It  must,  however, 
be  recollected,  that  although  it  may  not  be  necessary  to  construct 
immediately  the  canal  and  bulkheads  at  the  Byram  and  Wampus 
Ponds,  that  prudence  would  call  upon  us  to  do  it,  to  provide  a 
supply  of  water,  in  case  of  any  accident  happening  to  the  Rye 
Ponds  Reservoir ;  and  it  would  also  be  necessary  immediately  to 
secure  those  ponds,  and  the  lands  bordering  on  them.  There- 
fon  ,  our  plans  and  estimates  would  have  to  include  at  this  time, 
all  those  items 

128.  Various  plans  have  been  suggested  to  bring  the  water  to 
the  City.  On  a  lull  examination,  I  am  clearly  of  opinion,  that  it 
would  be  the  best  to  introduce  it  through  an  open  canal ;  that 
m>;de  being  the  most  economical,  the  most  secure,  and  permit- 
ting the  greatest  quantity  of  water  to  flow  through  it  at  equal 
spaces  of  time  ;  and  the  attainment  of  a  greater  head  for  our  Re- 
servoirs. 

129.  An  open  canal  has  been  seriously  objected  to  on  account 
of  ice  forming  in  the  Winter  on  its  surface.  To  avoid  this,  it 
must  be  made  narrow  and  deep,  and  direct ;  and  the  fall  being 
eighteen  inches  in  the  mile,  will  cause  a  rapid  current  on  its  sur- 
face If  this  should  be  found  in  very  severe  Winters  to  be  insuf- 
ficient, the  discharge  gates  on  the  line  must  be  opened  to  quicken 
the  current ;  and  the  sluices  on  the  Croton  must  pass  into  the 
works  a  larger  quantity  of  water  than  usual,  or  by  passing  through 
the  sluices  a  larger  and  a  smaller  quantity,  thereby  creating  a 
rapid  alternate  rise  and  fall  of  the  level  of  the  surface  of  the  canai. 
Mechanical  contrivances  could  also  be  resorted  to,  to  break  the 
ice  and  keep  it  open  ;  the  floating  ice,  if  any,  could  easily 
be  « emoved  by  labourers  employed  for  that  purpose.  It  is  also 
evident,  that  although  the  canal  may  freeze  over,  if  we  take  that 
subject  into  calculation,  we  can  pass  a  sufficient  quantity  of  water 
under  the  ice  for  the  supply  of  the  City,  by  giving  it  depth.  It  is 
also  apparent,  that  at  the  time  of  ice,  the  consumption  of  the  City 
will  be  less  than  at  any  other  periods  of  the  year,  as  water  will  not 
be  required  for  the  streets,  yards,  &c. 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


130.  It  is  said,  that  the  water  flowing  in  the  canal,  would  be- 
come adulterated  by  the  washings  of  the  surrounding  lands,  and 
also  that  bars  and  shallows  would  form  in  the  work.  This  objec- 
tion would  be  tenable,  if  the  works  are  badly  built,  or  the  plan  of 
constructions  are  not  well  considered.  It  is,  however,  an  easy 
matter  to  exclude  the  rains  and  wash,  which  would  run  from  the 
hills  by  digging  drains,  and  providing  suitable  passages  under  the 
works  to  pass  it  away.  My  time  will  not  permit  me  to  enter  into 
a  full  detail,  as  it  will  require  different  modes  of  construction  to 
apply  to  differently  situated  grounds.  In  respect  to  the  perma- 
nency of  the  plan,  there  can  be  no  doubt,  as  on  side  hill,  the 
canal  must  be  cut  the  full  breadth  of  the  water  line  in  them,  and 
on  the  embankments  stone  walls,  or  thin  iron  plates  can  be  re- 
sorted to,  as  the  former  will  have  to  be  the  \fhole  extent  of  the 
works, 

131.  A  closed  tunnel,  as  proposed  by  Mr.  White,  is  very  objec- 
tionable, on  account  of  the  expense  of  its  execution,  and  the  dan- 
ger of  leakage  or  breakage.  If  an  accident  of  this  nature  should 
.happen  in  the  Winter,  it  would  be  impossible  to  repair  it,  as 
cement  will  not  set  in  frosty  weather.  The  work  would  also  be 
weak  at  the  different  angles  made  in  the  route,  and  the  velocity 
of  the  water  would  be  very  much  retarded  by  friction,  and  collisi* 
ons  with  the  different  crooks  in  the  line.  It  must  also  be  recol- 
lected that  the  strength  of  the  arch  is  its  downward  pressure,  and 
the  head  of  water  is  applied  under  it,  thereby  tending  to  throw  it 
out  upwards,  and  nothing  but  the  adhesion  of  the  cement  and  the 
filling  above  the  arch  will  prevent  it  from  bursting.  Other  rea- 
sons could  also  be  assigned. 

132.  Pipes  are  also  to  be  objected  to,  on  account  of  the  great 
expense  of  procuring  and  laying  them,  as  it  would  require  pipes 
of  thirty  inch  diameter,  and  the  friction  of  the  water,  in  its  pas- 
sage through  them,  would  not  only  render  a  greater  head  neces- 
sary to  overcome  it,  but  it  would  diminish  the  quantity  delivered 
on  the  Island,  and  also  the  height  of  the  reservoir.  If  pipes,  or  a 
tunnel  was  adopted  to  provide  against  accidents,  it  would  require 
a  double  line  for  each. 

133.  Many  persons  have  suggested  that  the  water  in  the  open 
canal,  by  its  passage  through  it,  would  become  impure ;  I  cannot 
see  the  force  of  the  objection,  as  I  have  already  stated  the  man- 
ner that  those  impurities  can  be  avoided.    It  must  also  be  recol- 


239  [Doc.  No.  6i. 


iected  that  the  principal  supply  of  the  city  of  London  is  procured 
from  the  \'ew  River  and  the  River  Lea,  by  the  means  of  an  open 
canal.  The  canal,  to  maintain  its  level,  meanders  a  distance  of 
thirty-nine  miles,  although  the  source  of  supply,  in  a  direct  line, 
is  not  more  than  twenty  miles  from  the  city.  Those  united 
streams  supply  28,774,000  gallons  in  twenty-four  hours,  and  pro- 
vide for  177,400  houses.  In  1816,  there  was  on  the  canal,  forty- 
three  sluices,  and  215  public  badges  over  it.  There  are  also  seve- 
ral subterraneous  passages  under  roads  ;  one  is  two  hundred  yards 
long.  At  Islington  the  canal  is  fourteen  and  a  half  feet  wide,  and 
four  and  a  half  feet  deep.  From  the  New  River  head  reservoir^ 
which  is  fifty-eight  feet  above  the  river  Thames,  the  water  is 
raised  thirty-five  feet  by  steam  engines,  into  two  reservoirs. 
One  is  situated  near  Pentonville,  and  the  other  near  Tottenham 
Court-House  rond.  They  each  contain  five  acres,  and  are  ten 
feet  in  depth. 

134.  On  the  north-west  side  of  Loudon  Bridge  there  are  five 
water-wheels,  which  raise-  the  water  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
high  from  the  River  Thames  in  a  reservoir,  for  the  use  of  the 
city.  It  must  be  well  known  that  the  Thames  River  is  the 
receptacle,  not  only  for  the  whole  filth  of  the  city  of  London,  but 
of  its  shipping,  and  of  the  villages  and  towns  on  its  borders  ;  and 
yet  it  is  an  indisputable  fact  that  it  is  not  only  considered  good  by 
its  citizens,  but  that  many  of  the  packets  and  vessels  from  this 
city  supply  themselves  for  their  trip  from  that  source,  preferring 
those  waters  to  ours.  Part  of  the  city  of  Paris  is  likewise  supplied 
with  the  waters  of  the  Seine,  and  the  more  elevated  parts  of  the 
city  from  springs  which  rise  on  the  surrounding  eminences.  The 
water  works  of  the  city  of  Edinburgh  are  too  well  known  to  re- 
quire to  be  mentioned. 

135.  It  is  well  known  that  the  city  of  Philadelphia  is  supplied 
with  water  procured  from  the  River  Schuylkill,  and  raised  by  hv- 
draulic  machinery,  on  Fair  Mount  ;  that  the  stream  rises  in  and 
flows  through  one  of  the  richest  mineral  regions  of  our  country  ; 
its  valley  is  filled  with  villages,  manufactories,  and  farm  houses  ; 
its  lands  are  arable  and  cultivated  to  their  fullest  extent  ;  its  cur- 
rents are  slackened  by  numerous  dams  ;  many  public  roads  are  in 
its  vicinity  ;  it  is  crossed  by  numerous  public  ferries  and  bridges, 
and  there  is  a  navigable  canal  in  conslant  use,  while  the  season 
permits,  from  one  end  of  its  valley  to  the  other.    Yet  with  all 


Doc.  No.  61.]  240 


these  facts,  which  would  be  objections  in  the  minds  of  the  fastidi- 
ous, those  waters  are  not  only  considered  wholesome  and  palat- 
able, but  are  the  pride  and  just  boast  of  that  city. 

136.  The  vessels  which  navigate  the  Hudson  River,  to  this  day, 
freely  use  its  water  above  Poughkeepsie.  The  Delaware  waters 
are  likewise  used,  and  many  of  the  citizens  of  New  Orleans  use 
those  of  the  Mississippi.  At  the  City  of  Savannah,  shipping  sup- 
ply themselves  from  the  Savannah  River,  and  give  it  preference 
over  any  other  The  waters  of  those  last  streams,  not  only  pass 
through  swamps  and  receive  the  stagnant  waters  from  Cypress 
ponds  and  Laurel  thickets,  but  their  currents  are  sluggish,  and  they 
are  contaminated  with  many  impurities;  and  yet,  when  they  have 
time  to  settle,  they  are  not  only  palatable,  bu«  pure.  If  we  can- 
didly take  all  these  facts  into  consideration,  we  must  b<*  under  no 
apprehensions  on  the  subject  of%  the  purity  oj  the  Croton  River 
waters. 

137-  The  expense  of  distributing  the  water  throughout  the 
City,  cannot  be  accurately  ascertained,  until  the  height  of  the 
reservoir,  and  the  distance  that  the  water  has  to  run  from  it,  are 
known.  Those  are  questions  which  ought  now  be  determined, 
to  find  the  diameters  of  the  mains  and  the  cross  branches,  other- 
wise it  may  be  found,  when  it  is  too  late  to  remedy  the  evil,  that 
the  city  have  expended  more  money  than  necessary  ;  or  that 
pipes  are  not  sufficient  to  provide  for  the  consumption ;  for  the 
more  elevated  the  reservoirs  are,  and  the  more  systematical  their 
levels  are  maintained,  and  the  nearer  they  are  to  the  place  of  dis- 
trtb  -tion,  the  greater  will  be  the  saving  on  the  conduits  and 
blanches.  These  are  considerations  of  great  consequence,  and 
cannot  be  determined  too  soon. 

138.  The  City  of  Philadelphia,  before  the  adoption  of  then 
present  plan,  expended,  in  futile  experiments  and  expedients, 
more  than  one  million  of  dollars.  This,  on  the  part  of  our  City, 
may  be  avoided,  by  having  careful  and  accurate  surveys  made  of 
all  the  difficulties  of  the  undertaking,  and  a  definite  plan  to  work 
on,  and  by  employing  a  careful  and  intelligent  agent  to  collect 
practical  information,  not  only  in  this  country,  but  in  Europe. 

139.  From  the  best  opinion  I  can  form,  I  am  satisfied, that  the  wa- 
ters of  the  Croton  River  may  be  taken  at  Pine's  Bridge,  and  deliv- 
ered on  the  Island,  for  a  sum  not  exceeding  $750,000,  in  an  opeu 
canal,  and  with  stone  linings,  ditching,  and  walls,  and  includ- 


241  [Doc.  No  61. 


iag  damages  and  other  contingencies,  it  may  swell  the  cost  to 
$850,000.    The  expense  of  distribution  and  reservoirs  on  the* 
Island,  may  amount  to  $1,650,000  more,  which  would  make  the 
whole  cost  of  the  work  $2,500,000. 

140  Having  thus  placed  the  whole  subject,  in  compliance  w  ith 
your  wishes,  in  full  view  before  you,  nothing  now  remains  to  be 
investigated,  but  the  probable  revenue,  and  the  advantages  which 
would  accrue  to  the  city  from  the  construction  of  the  works. 

141.  It  is  admitted  by  all  that  an  ample  and  pure  supply  of 
water  is  one  of  the  greatest  blessings  which  can  be  conferred  on  a 
dense  community  ;  as  it  is  one  of  the  greatest  conservators  of 
public  health  and  morals  ;  as  it  is  necessary  for  cleanness  in  our 
houses,  yards,  sewers,  and  streets  ;  also  for  eulinary  and  other  do- 
mestic purposes,  and  for  public  baths,  stables,  manufactories,  and 
vessels;  for  purifying  the  air  in  summer,  for  embellishments  in 
public  squares,  gardens,  and  private  residences,  the  extinguish- 
ment of  fires,  and,  if  secured  in  sufficient  quantities,  it  could  be 
used  for  dry  docks  and  other  valuable  City  objects. 

142.  The  advantages  of  the  City  Reservoir  in  the  extinguish- 
ment of  fires,  I  have  before  mentioned  in  another  part  of  this  com- 
munication. It  appears  in  a  table  now  before  me,  that  the  de- 
struction of  property  occurring  to  this  City  by  fires,  from  1825  to 
1829,  amounted  to  $1,753,633,  and  the  average  for  those  five  years, 
is  over  $350,000.  The  expense  of  supporting  the  Fire  Depart- 
ment by  the  City,  for  the  same  period,  amounts  to  $J"3,627,  or 
over  on  an  average,  $14,700  per  annum  ;  and  during  this  period, 
there  were  four  hundred  and  forty-three  fires. 

143.  The  cost  of  supporting  the  Fire  Department  by  the  Ciry, 
varies  considerably.  In  1830,  the  expense  amounted  to  $22,96:.' ; 
the  actual  number  of  fires  that  happened  in  that  year,  were  one 
hundred  and  nineteen,  and  the  false  alarms  were  one  hundred  and 
twenty  five,  and  the  loss  of  property  amounts  to  $157,135  In 
1831,  the  expenses  of  the  Department  amount  to  $12,984  and 
during  the  three  first  quarters  of  this  year,  to  $13,981.  On  an 
average,  it  may  be  estimated  at  $18,000  per  annum  This  sum, 
however,  includes  only  the  expense  defrayed  by  the  City,  and  not 
the  services  of  the  firemen.  This  item  embraces  a  new  subject  of 
investigation,  as  it  is  well  known,  that  the  equivalent  a  fireman  re- 
ceives for  his  seven  year's  services,  is  an  exemption  from  militia 
and  jury  duties  ;  and  although  those  services  are  rendered,  they 
still  are  a  tax  on  the  individual. 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


242 


144.  Another  serious  consideration  presents  itself.  The  time 
may  come,  when  our  militia  laws  may  be  very  much  modified,  or 
entirely  repealed.  In  this  case,  the  City  will  have  to  bear  the 
whole  expense  of  the  Department,  unless  some  new  equivalent  is 
granted  to  the  firemen.  To  ascertain  what  the  amount  of  the 
expense,  in  such  a  contingency  would  be,  I  addressed  a  note  to 
Mr  Wen  man,  who  says,  "Our  Common  Council  would  be  under 
the  necessity  of  doing  as  they  do  in  London  and  in  Paris,  that  is, 
of  paying  a  sufficient  number  of  able  bodied  men  to  take  charge 
of  the  Fire  Department;  in  that  case,  it  would  be  necessary  to 
have  under  pay  twelve  hundred  men,  that  being  the  least  number 
it  would  take  to  manage  the  Engines,  Hooks  and  Ladders,  and 
Hose  Carts.  If  we  say  one  dollar  per  man,  for  every  actual  fire, 
the  average  number  which,  is  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  an- 
nually, it  would  make  $150,000;  and  for  every  alarm  of  fire, 
there  should  be  fifty  cents  allowed  to  each  fireman  for  attending; 
and  if  there  was  only  one  and  a  half  alarms  to  each  fire,  it  would 
amount  annually  to  $112,000.  For  contingent  expenses,  such  as 
washing  the  engines  and  implements,  and  drying  hose,  which  in 
the  Summer  season  takes  one  day,  and  in  the  Fall  and  tt  inter 
two  days,  besides  overhauling  and  repairing  machinery,  $40,000, 
it  would  make  the  total  expense  of  maintaining  the  Fire  Depart- 
ment to  the  City,  $302,500.  These  difficulties,  I  am  certain  will 
all  be  obviated,  and  the  above  sum  saved  to  the  City,  provided 
our  Common  Council  will  provide  throughout  our  City,  a  suffi- 
cient supply  of  water  for  the  extinguishment  of  fires." 

145.  From  the  calculations  of  Mr.  Wenman,  a  very  important 
fact  is  developed ;  that  although  it  only  costs  the  City  Council  at 
this  time  about  $18,000  to  maintain  the  Fire  Department,  the  in- 
dividual firemen  are  taxed  in  their  services  $284,500  annually. 
It  is  true,  their  labours  are  rendered  voluntarily,  and  they  have 
an  equivalent ;  but  it  does  not  render  it  less  imperative  on  the 
City  authorities,  as  the  common  guardian  of  this  great  commu- 
nity, to  diminish  the  labours  and  personal  exposures  and  risks  of 
that  meritorious,  skilful,  and  patriotic  class  of  citizens. 

146  By  introducing  a  copious  supply  of  water  into  the  city,  it 
will  diminish  the  risk  of  fire,  and  the  rates  of  insurance  on  all  de- 
scriptions of  property,  as  it  will  provide  the  means  always  at  hand 
for  their  speedy  extinguishment  ;  it  will  also  prevent  the  spread- 
ing ot  fires  in  times  of  high  winds,  or  great  drought,  as  the  water 


243  [Dog.  No.  61. 


can  be  thrown  from  the  fire  plugs  in  great  quantity  and  velocity 
on  the  exterior  ;  and  also  with  facility  in  the  interior  of  the  build- 
ing, and  on  the  roofs  of  the  adjoining  houses.  It  is  self  evident 
that  as  we  lessen  the  chances  of  those  calamities,  the  prices  of  in- 
surance will  fall.  This  saving  has  been  estimated  at  fifty  thou- 
sand dollars. 

147.  It  is  well  known,  that  until  this  year,  the  occupants  of 
buildings,  and  the  owners  of  lots,  have  been  required  to  collect  the 
filth  and  dirt  before  them  in  heaps,  at  stated  periods,  to  be  re- 
moved by  dirt  carts  employed  by  the  city.  This  trial  on  the  part 
of  the  city  authorities,  may  be  considered  as  an  experiment,  and 
its  success  must  encourage  them  to  persevere,  or  to  discontinue  it 
at  their  option.  But  whether  this  service  is  rendered  in  labor,  or 
a  dirt  tax  is  levied  indirectly  on  the  lessee  or  owner  of  the  pro- 
perty, it  amounts  precisely  to  the  same  thing.  In  a  table  now  be- 
fore me,  compiled  from  the  Tax  Book  of  1832,  it  appears  that 
there  are  20,944  buildings,  and  9302  vacant  lots,  in  fourteen 
Wards  of  the  city  ;  or,  30,246,  exclusive  of  buildings  and  lots,  in 
the  Twelfth  Ward.  If  only  twelve  sweepings  are  necessary  in  the 
year,  opposite  to  each  lot  and  building,  and  should  cost  twenty- 
five  cents,  it  amounts  to  90,738  dollars.  If  we  add  to  this  sum  the 
expense  of  cleansing  the  public  squares,  sewers,  and  markets,  by 
the  city,  $20,000,  it  makes  $1 10,738. 

148.  When  our  streets  become  dusty  in  summer,  and  our  at- 
mosphere warm,  in  many  of  our  principle  streets,  our  citizens,  to 
increase  their  comfort,  and  our  merchants,  to  prevent  their  goods 
from,  being  damaged  by  the  dust,  employ  drays  to  sprinkle  the 
streets  with  water.  This  water  is  generally  procured  from  the 
East  or  the  North  River,  and  is  supposed  by  many  persons,  to  in- 
crease, instead  of  diminishing,  the  impurity  of  the  atmosphere. 
The  precise  sum  cannot  be  accurately  ascertained,  but  it  is  be- 
lieved, from  the  best  information,  that  it  varies  between  6  and 
$10,000  annually. 

149.  To  maintain  the  pumps  and  wells  is  an  annual  tax  on  the 
city,  and  on  its  citizens.  From  the  14th  of  May,  182 i,  to  the 
26th  of  November,  1832,  the  cost  to  the  city  amounts  to  $30,863. 
If  we,  however,  suppose  that  the  cost  hereafter  will  not  exceed 
that  of  1831,  the  annual  tax  on  the  City  Treasury  will  be  $3,115, 
and  will  be  lower  than  the  amount  paid  for  the  same  object  in 
1826  and  1829.    If  to  this  we  add  the  expense  of  supporting  and 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


244 


constructing  private  cisterns,  pumps,  wells,  and  reservoirs,  which 
I  am  assured  does  not  fall  below  $15,123,  it  makes  the  total  cost 
$  18,238  for  maintaining  them. 

150.  All  these  objects  are  legitimate  subjects  connected  with 
our  inquiry  of  the  advantages  and  expense  of  introducing  water 
into  the  city  ;  and  I  now  shall  examine  into  the  probable  saving 
which  will  result  to  the  city  on  those  items. 

151.  The  cost  of  maintaining  the  fire  department 

to  the  City,  is  $18,000  annually,  suppose 

saving  one  half,  ....  -  $9,000 
Los*  accruing  to  the  City  by  Fire  in  1830,  $157,135, 

suppose  saving  on  this  item  one  half,  -  -  78,576 
Personal  Tax  paid  by  Firemen,  equal  to  $284,500, 

suppose  a  saving  of  one  fourth,  -  71>125 
Saving  on  account  of  property  insured  against  fires 

in  the  City,   50,000 

Amount  paid  for  cleansing  streets,  $110,738  ;  in 

services,  &c.  suppose  saving,  ...  10,000 
Money  expended  in  laying  dust,  &c.  -  6,000 
Saving  in  maintaining  pumps,  &c.         -  18,238 

Saving  to  the  City  by  introducing  water,  in  services, 

taxes,  and  money,  annually    -       -       -  $242,939 

152.  The  above  amount  may  appear  to  many  to  be  large,  but  I 
am  satisfied  if  a  careful  investigation  should  be  made,  it  would  be 
much  swelled  beyond  the  sum  I  have  named.  » 

153.  To  the  above  amount  is  to  be  added  the  actual  expense  of 
the  shipping,  and  the  City  in  procuring  wholesome  and  palatable 
water.  In  a  former  part  of  my  communication,  I  have  stated  the 
basis  of  the  calculations,  except  the  Manhattan  Works,  which  I 
suppose  is  $10,000 ;  and  nothing  now  remains  but  to  enumerate 
them. 

Expense  of  the  supply  brought  to  the  City  by  water 


carts,  $273,750 

Supposed  revenue  of  Manhattan  Works,  .  10,000 
Expense  of  supply  ing  vessels,  &c.  .       .  49,945 


Total  cost  of  procuring  water  to  the  City,  .  $333,695 
Add  saving  by  its  introduction,  .       .  242,939 


Total  amount  of  all  items,     ....  $576}634 


245 


[Doc.  No.  61. 


7  54.  If  we  take  the  whole  s"m  saved  to  the  City  by  introducing 
Water,  it  would  be  equal  to  an  investment  of  a  capital  at  five  per 
com,  of  jfl  J, 532-700,  or  that  amount  could  be  expended  for  that 
object.  If  we,  however,  limited  our  inquiry  to  the  cost  of  the 
present  supply  pf  water,  it  would  be  more  than  a  capital  at  five 
percent,  of  $6,(i(39  980  ;  and  if  we  entirely  excluded  the  Man- 
hattan, and  the  supply  for  shipping,  it  is  equal  to  a  capital  at  five 
per  cent,  of  $5  475,000,  and  as  the  works  are  not  supposed  to  cost 
over  $2,50(,,(>OO,  the  first  statement  is  capable  of  paying  twenty- 
three  per  cent,  interest  on  the  cost,  the  second,  over  thirteen 
per  cent,  and  the  last  over  eleven  per  cent.  This  must  therefore 
completely  settle  the  question  of  the  productiveness  of  the  under- 
taking. 

J  55.  Again,  if  we  take  the  capital  equal  to  an  interest  of  five 
per  cent,  on  the  saving,  and  the  expense  of  introducing  water,  and 
divide  it  by  the  number  of  lots  in  the  fourteen  Wards,  it  is  equal 
to  an  investment  by  each  lot,  of  a  capital  over  $381,  or  to  pro- 
vide for  a  tax  to  supply  themselves  with  water,  and  maintain  the 
police  of  the  City.  The  introduction  of  water  wouid  not  amount 
to  more  than  an  investment  of  $81  for  each  lot,  and  would  conse- 
quently save  $299.  Other  calculations  could  be  made,  but  are 
deemed  unnecessary. 

156  My  communication  may  appear  unnecessarily  long;  but 
as  I  could  not  with  propriety  and  justice  to  others,  make  it  shorter, 
and  also  present  my  own  views  frankly,  and  give  a  fair  statement 
ot  all  questions  connected  with  your  wishes,  it  must  render  an 
apology  unnecessary  for  4ts  length. 

157-  1»  conclusion,  I  recommend  that  the  supply  for  the  City 
be  taken  from  the  Croton  River ;  that  minute  surveys  be  made 
before  the  plan  of  the  Croton  route  is  determined. 

That  the  expense  of  the  works  will  not  probably  exceed 
$2,500,000. 

That  the  advantages  of  the  supply  of  water  to  the  City  would 
not  justify  any  expenditures  exceeding  $11,000,000;  and  the 
works  may  be  put  in  operation  three  years  after  their  commence- 
ment. 

With  my  best  wishes  for  the  success  of  this  useful  undertaking, 
I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Sir,  your  very  obedient  servant, 

DE  WITT  CLINTON, 

U.  8,  C.  Engineer. 


INDEX  TO  THE  REPORT 


1.  Remarks  concurring  with  the  Committee  on  the  practicability 

of  introducing  water. 

2.  Considerations  in  making  Report. 

3.  Supply  of  water  ought  to  be  equal  to  the  present  and  increas- 

ing consumption  of  the  City. 

4.  Increase  of  population  toJ)e  expected  in  sixty  years. 

5.  Remarks  on  the  enterprising  character  of  the  citizens  of 

New- York. 

6.  A  source  of  regret  that  the  City  is  not  supplied  with  water. 

7.  Reasons  why  the  work  has  been  delayed  by  the  City. 

8.  Manhattan  Company. 

9.  Analysis  of  Manhattan  Waters. 

10.  Description  of  the  works  of  the  Manhattan  Company. 

11.  Manhattan  Well,  Bleecker-street. 

12.  Conclusions  to  be  drawn  from  Mr.  Lozier's  account  of  the 

Manhattan  Works,  in  1823. 

13.  Suggestions  respecting  a  compromise  with  the  Manhattan 

Company. 

14.  Sharon  Canal  Company. 

15.  Route  of  Sharon  Canal  to  Crawford  Mills. 

16.  Height  of  ground  between  the  Croton  and  the  Ten  Mile 

River. 

17  Sharon  Canal  continued  to  the  Harlem  River. 

18.  General  views  of  the  expense  and  distance  of  the  Sharon  Ca- 

nal route  to  the  Harlem  River. 

19.  New  York  Water  Works  Company. 

20.  New-York  Well  Company. 

21.  Remarks  on  Incorporated  Companies. 

22.  A  description  of  the  City  Reservoir. 

23.  A  description  of  the  Iron  Tank. 

24.  Cost  of  the  City  Reservoir  Works. 


247  [Doc.  No.  61. 


25.  Rise  in  the  value  of  property  at  the  City  Reservoir. 

26.  Expense  of  keeping  the  City  Reservoir  Works  in  operation* 
27-  Aggregate  expenses  of  the  same. 

28.  Extent  of  pipes  laid  by  the  City. 

29.  Aggregate  length  of  pipes  and  cost  of  the  same, 

30.  Quantity  of  pipes  ordered,  but  not  laid. 

31.  Description  of  pipes. 

32.  Expense  of  pipes. 

33.  Stop  valves,  and  the  expense  of  the  same. 

34.  Advantages  of  the  City  Reservoir  in  extinguishing  fires. 

35.  The  boundaries  of  the  Island  of  .New- York. 

36.  Various  elevations  of  Islands. 

37.  Remarks  on  the  elevations. 

38.  Soils  and  Rocks  of  Island. 

39.  Doubts  on  the  subject  of  the  uniformity  of  dips  of  rock. 

40.  Dinsbrow's  plan  of  boring  to  supply  the  City  with  water. 

41.  His  perforations  may  procure  good  water. 

42.  Plan  of  Dinsbrow  may  answer  for  families,  &c. 

43.  Contrasting  Dinsbrow's  plan  with  City  Well. 

44.  Number  of  wells  necessary  on  his  plan. 

45.  Advantages  of  City  Well  over  Dinsbrow's  plan. 

46.  Quantity  of  water  to  be  obtained  by  perforations. 
47  General  remarks  on  that  subject. 

48.  Expense  of  supplying  City  on  Dinsbrow's  plan. 

49.  Dinsbrow's  plan  condemned. 

50.  Well  water  losing  its  goodness. 

51.  Extract  of  a  report  on  well  water. 

52.  Boundaries  of  bad  well  water. 

53.  Quantity  of  water  brought  to  the  City  by  water  drays. 

54.  Cost  of  water  to  hotels  and  boarding  houses,  &c. 

55.  Consumption  of  water  by  shipping. 

56.  Plan  to  procure  water  from  Passaic  River. 
57   Morris  Canal  project  of  supplying  the  City. 

58.  Poughkeepsie  project  of  supplying  the  City. 

59.  Plans  unworthy  to  be  investigated. 
60  Supply,  West  Chester  County. 

61.  Various  streams  have  been  proposed  to  supply  the  City. 

62.  Byram  River  and  Byram  and  Wampus  Ponds. 

63.  Country  between  the  Byram  and  the  Bronx  Rivers. 

64.  Bronx  River  and  the  Rye  Ponds. 

8 


Doc.  No.  61.]  &48 


65.  Country  between  the  Bronx  and  the  Hudson  Rivers. 

66.  Saw-Mill  River,  and  ridges  of  land. 

67.  Croton  River. 

68.  High-lands  bounding  Croton  Valley. 
69   General  remarks  in  conclusion. 

70.  Doctor  Brown's  Plan  in  1798. 

71.  A  general  summary  of  his  Report. 

72.  Report  of  Mr.  Weston  in  1799. 

73.  Mr.  Weston's  Plan. 

74.  General  summary  of  the  Weston  Plan. 

75.  Old  Collect  Plan  by  Mr.  Weston. 

76.  Plan  of  Robert  Macomb 

77  Remarks  on  more  recent  Plans. 

78.  View  of  Mr.  White's  surveys  in  1824. 

79.  Surveys  made  by  Mr.  Whife  between  Big  Rye  Pond  and  By-. 

ram  River. 

80.  Route  surveyed  by  Mr.  White  between  the  Bronx  and  the 

Saw-Mill  Rivers. 

81.  Mr.  White's  examination  between  the  Saw-Mill  and  the  Cro- 

ton Rivers. 

82.  General  remarks  account  for  the  want  of  success  of  Mr. 

White  and  the  Sharon  Canal  Company,  in  the  fiist  at- 
tempts to  connect  the  Saw-Mill  River  and  the  croton  Val- 
lies. 

83.  Levels  of  the  Croton  River. 

84.  Mr.  White's  first  Plan  in  1824. 

85.  Water  to  be  raised  by  machinery  on  his  first  Plan. 

86.  Number  of  Reservoirs  proposed  by  Mr.  White. 

87.  Mr.  White's  second  Plan. 

88.  Remarks  on  Mr.  White's  first  and  second  Plans. 

89.  The  Sprain,  or  Valentine's  Brook,  lost  on  Mr.  White's  third 

Plan. 

90.  Mr.  White's  opinion  on  the  subject  of  hydraulic  machinery. 

91.  Mr.  White's  fourth  Plan. 

92.  Mr.  White's  survey  to  Saw-Mill  River. 

93.  Mr.  White's  final  Plan  in  1826. 

94.  Mr.  White's  estimate  and  remarks  on  the  same. 

95.  Messrs.  Dewey  and  Serrell's  opinion  on  the  subject  of  a  high 

level  from  the  Bronx  River. 

96.  Quantities  of  water. 


24S>  tt>oc.  No.  6i, 


97.  Mr.  White's  explanation  of  the  character  of  the  seasons  in 

1824  and  1826. 

98.  Report  of  Stephen  Allen  in  1822,  on  quantity  of  water  dis- 

charged by  Rye  Ponds. 

99.  General  Swift's  guage  in  1822,  of  Rye  Ponds. 
100.  Remarks  on  guages  in  1832. 

101«  Guages  of  the  Little  Rye  Pond  outlet. 

102  Quantity  of  water  made  by  Mr.  White  in  1824. 

103  Quantity  of  water  made  by  Mr.  White  in  1826. 

104.  Quantity  of  water  made  by.  Messrs.  Dewey  and  Serrell  in 

1832. 

105.  Comparing  quantities  together. 

106.  Remarks  on  Ciscoe  Reservoir. 
107  Troton  River  waters  rejected. 

108.  Quantity  of  water  that  can  be  procured  from  Bronx  and  By- 

ram  Rivers. 

109.  Reasons  why  Croton  waters  are  not  included. 

110  Quantity  of  water  favourable. 

1 1 1  Plan  of  Reservoir,  and  loss  by  evaporation,  &c. 

112.  Reasons  for  taking  minimum  quantity  of  water. 

113.  Folly  of  making  Reservoirs  in  the  main  valley  of  the  Bronx. 

114.  Quantity  of  water  necessary  for  consumption. 
115   Supply  of  running  water  cannot  be  increased. 

116.  Probable  time  that  the  Bronx  Plan  will  supply  the  City. 

117.  General  view  of  the  works  necessary  on  the  Bronx  Plan. 

118.  Croton  River  supply  of  water. 
1 19  Route  from  Croton  River. 

120.  Route  from  Pine's  Bridge. 

121.  Difficulties  great  on  the  route. 

122.  Elevations  of  Aqueducts. 

123.  Reasons  why  Aqueducts  will  not  be  very  costly. 
124   Medium  level. 

125.  Remarks  on  capacity  of  Reservoirs. 

126.  Reasons  why  the  Croton  River  should  be  selected. 

127.  Reasons  which  will  be  urged  in  favor  of  the  Bronx, 

128.  Plans  proposed  to  elevate  the  water  on  the  Island. 

129.  Objections  against  an  open  canal  replied  to. 

130.  Objections  to  an  open  canal  continued. 

131.  Plan  of  a  brick  tunnel. 

132.  Plan  of  iron  pipes. 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


250 


133.  New  River  water  works,  London. 

134.  Thames  U  ater  used  in  London. 

133  Character  of  River  Schuylkill  waters. 

130  Hudson,  Delaware,  Mississippi,  and  Savannah  River  waters. 
137   Remarks  on  disti  iiuition  of  waters. 

138.  Money  lost  to  the  City  of  Philadelphia  by  experimenting. 
139   Probable  expense  of  Croton  River  works. 

140.  Observations  introductory. 

141.  \  arious  uses  of  water  in  a  large  city. 

142   Loss  to  the  City  from  fires,  and  expense  of  the  department, 
from  1H25,  to  1829. 

143.  Expense  of  Fire  Department,  and  loss  by  fires,  in  1830. 

144.  The  expense  to  the  City  to  maintain  fire  department,  with 

the  ->iilitia  Law  repealed. 

145.  Tax  on  Firemen. 

14(3.  Risks  oi  fire  and  cost  of  insurance  lessened. 
147   having  in  cleansing  streets 

148.  Cost  of  sprinkling  streets  with  water  in  the  summer. 

149.  Lxpense  of  pumps  and  wells  to  the  City  and  individuals. 

150.  Pre  paratory  Remarks,  going  to  show  the  saving  to  the  City 

by  introducing  water. 

151.  Account  ol  saving  to  the  City  and  its  Citizens. 

152  Remarks  on  the  above 

153  Summary  of  the  expenses  of  the  City,  to  procure  water. 

154.  Calculations  on  the  probable  revenue  which  will  occur  to 

the  City,  by  constructing  the  works. 

155.  Final  view  on  the  subject  of  the  revenue  of  the  works. 

156.  Concluding  remarks. 


Street  Commissioner's  Office,  Oct.  29,  1832. 

Dear  Sir, 

You  are  hereby  requested  to  take  with  you  Mr. 
Win  Serrell  and  two  rodmen,  two  axemen,  if  required,  and  a  wa- 
gon and  horses  and  driver,  and  make  an  excursion,  and  take  levels 
for  the  purpose  of  bringing  water  to  this  city. 

You  will  proceed  first  to  Harlem  River,  at  Macomb's  Dam,  and 
make  the  tide  water  at  high  tide  your  starting  point. 

Proceed  then  to  ascend  the  high  ground,  and  gain  a  piece  of 
table  ground,  of  at  least  three  or  four  acres,  which  is  120  feet 
above  tide  water  ;  there  make  some  permanent  marks  which  can 
be  found  hereafter. 

You  may  find  this  ground  within  half  a  mile,  I  hope,  of  the 
river.    It  is  desirable  to  find  it  as  near  Macomb's  Dam  srs  possible. 

W  hen  you  have  found  this  ground,  then  carry  a  level  northward, 
rising  twelve  inches  in  each  mile,  and  trace  out  such  a  level  as  is 
the  easiest  and  cheapest  to  carry  a  canal  or  brick  tunnel  upon. 
Pursue  this  between  the  Bronx  River  and  Hudson  River,  and  be- 
tween Bronx  and  Saw- Mill ;  and  it  is  believed  that  this  will  bring 
you  out  to  the  Bronx  at  the  mill  against  the  village  of  White 
Plums ;  at  this  point  the  Bronx  is  said  to  be  133  feet  above  tide. 
However,  puisue  the  level  as  above  until  you  do  strike  the  Bronx. 

You  will  note  all  the  ground  you  pass  over,  whether  level,  side 
hill,  rocky,  &c.  whether  easy  excavation  ;  and  all  the  outlines  to 
enable  us  to  estimate  pretty  fairly  the  expense. 

All  embankments  are  to  be  particularly  noted,  and  the  amount 
in  yards  given,  and  also  the  place  where  earth  can  be  obtained  to 
make  this  embankment,  and  of  what  quality  it  is,  so  far  as  to  give 
a  little  bearing  upon  the  expense  of  it. 

If  you  should  be  driven  to  pass  any  stream,  which  I  think  you 
will,  one  in  particular,  Valentine's  Brook,  take  a  look  to  see  how 
this  can  be  brought  into  our  tunnel,  if  it  is  worth  bringing  in ;  or 
whether  an  artificial  reservoir  can  be  made  at  the  head  of  it.  All 
reservoirs  lor  tins  purpose  should  be  made  in  deep  ravines,  so  as 


Doc:  No.  61. 


to  keep  the  water  the  greatest  possible  depth,  and  give  the  great- 
est quantity  with  the  least  possible  surface. 

When  your  party  are  going  on,  and  you  see  them  fairly  started, 
and  they  can  move  on  two  or  three  days  without  you,  I  wish  you 
to  examine  Byram  Pond  and  Wampus  Pond,  and  see  whether 
they  are  favorably  situated  to  raise  them  a  few  feet  and  hold  on 
upon  their  waters,  to  carry  us  over  a  dry  time. 

And  when  you  are  out  on  this  examination,  I  wish  you  to  go 
over  to  Croton  River  and  examine  the  Branch  which  comes  from 
IVhihopook  Pond.  I  am  credibly  informed,  that  this  stream  gives, 
in  the  driest  time,  thirteen  million  gallons;  and  that  it  is  so  situ- 
ated, that  it  can  be  brought  over  the  other  branch  of  the  Croton, 
on  a  level  150  feet  above  it,  and  bring  it  round,  and,  by  a  short 
tunnel,  to  bring  it  over  into  the  head  of  Bronx  or  Saw-Mill  River; 
and  w  e  know  that  Saw  Mill  *  River,  at  Union  Village,  can  be 
brought  into  the  Bronx,  above  White  Plains,  for  four  or  five  thou- 
sand dollars. 

As  a  general  remark,  I  pray  you  to  take  a  general  look  of  the 
country  in  every  direction,  and  see  whether  artificial  reservoirs 
can  be  formed  at  the  head  water  of  the  Bronx,  or  in  any  other 
direction  available  ;  so  that  we  may  be  able  to  look  hereafter  to 
such  a  source  when  we  want  it. 

Wishing  you  every  success  in  the  expedition,  and  wishing  you 
good  weather  and  as  speedy  a  return  as  may  be, 

I  am,  very  respectfully, 
Your  obedient  servant, 
Timothy  Dewey,  Esq.  BENJAMIN  WRIGHT, 

Street  Commissioner, 

Note,  -Please  leave  Bench  Marks  at  least  every  mile,  made  on 
trees,  door  sills,  or  rocks,  which  can  be  easily  referred  to  hereafter. 


New- York,  29th  November,  1832. 

To  Benjamin  Wright,  Esq, 
Sir, 

In  pursuance  of  your  instructions,  dated  29th  October 

last, 

It  is  Respectfully  submitted  : 

That,  on  proceeding  from  Macomb's  Dam,  upon  the  high  land 
above,  and  examining  for  a  spot  of  "  Table  Land,  120  feet  high, 
containing  three  or  four  acres,  and  capable  of  being  made  a  Reser- 
voir," no  such  spot  could  be  found  nearer  than  about  a  mile  and 
three  quarters  from  the  starting  point.  The  distance  between  that 
and  Macomb's  Dam,  is  over  a  very  rugged  line,  mostly  of  stra- 
tified gneiss  rocks,  dipping  to  the  west,  and  interspersed- with  hol- 
lows, requiring  considerable  embankments  to  maintain  the  line  of 
a  tunnel  or  open  canal  ;  but  not  any  where  offering  facilities  of 
earth  or  other  materials  fit  to  aid  in  making  such  embankments. 

From  this  point,  the  country,  for  near  two  miles,  is  tolerably 
open,  and  such  as  does  not  offer  any  extraordinary  difficulties  in 
the  formation  of  a  canal  or  tunnel.  Continuing  the  level,  and 
entering  the  valley  of  the  Bronx  on  the  west  side,  the  required 
line  could  only  be  obtained  upon  the  faces  of  immense  rocky 
bluffs,  separated  by  deep  ravines,  without  any  supply  of  earth, 
or  other  materials,  within  any  reasonable  distance,  suitable  for 
the  construction  of  sucli  a  work.  This  character  of  country  con- 
tinues, with  little  variation,  until  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  above 
Underbill's  Bridge,  where  the  land  became  so  exceedingly  abrupt 
and  high,  that  it  became  requisite  to  cross  to  the  eastern  bank  of 
the  stream.,  before  the  work  of  running  the  level  could  be  con- 
tinued. The  level  struck  the  Bronx  at  about  136  feet  above  tide, 
near  Major  Popham's  Mill,  in  Scarsdale,  about  sixteen  miles  from 
Macomb's  Dam. 

From  the  character  of  the  country,  it  may  be  stated,  that  a  safe 
u  open  canal,  or  closed  tunnel,  descending  one  foot  in  a  mile,  from 
a  point  on  the  Bronx,  so  as  to  arrive  on  the  high-land  near  Ma- 
comb's Dam,  at  an  elevation  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet 
above  tide,"  is  wholly  impracticable. 


Doc.  No.  61. J 


254 


There  are  other  objections  to  taking  the  water  out  at  a  high 
level ;  one  of  the  most  important  is,  that  by  such  a  course  nil  the 
supply  coming  from  the  Sprain,  and  other  considerable  stream* 
and  springs,  which  are  sources  of  supply  below,  will  be  entirely 
lost  to  the  main  object. 

The  levels,  as  shown  by  the  accompanying  field  notes,  are 
herewith  submitted. 

The  next  point  of  inquiry,  is,  rt  the  sources  of  supply,  and 
whether  these  can  be  artificially  rendered  more  effective  n 

The  Rye  Ponds  exhibit  the  strongest  evidence,  that  they  have 
been  much  higher  than  they  now  are.  Every  iWSfrtfatibn  and 
observation  confirms  the  belief  that  these  masses  of  water  con- 
tinue the  whole  year  in  a  very  pure  state  On  the  1 5th  Novem- 
ber, on  puagingtbe  outlet,  it  appeared  that  4,173,001)  gallons  ran 
off  every  twenty-four  hours.  Y"he  large  pond  m;iy  be  laised  eight 
feet,  and  the  outlet  reduced  six,  making  fourteen  feet  of  reservoir. 
Thus  a  supply  may  be  retained  in  the  large  pond,  equal  to 
823,284,000  gallons. 

From  the  north  east  corner  of  Rye  Pond,  the  land  rises  very 
gradually,  until  near  the  By  ram  River,  when  it  falls  again  to  the 
Byram;  presenting  no  obstruction  worthy  of  notice  to  cutting  a 
small  canal,  by  which  the  surplus  water  and  freshets  may  be 
turned  into  the  Rye  Pond,  and  would  probably  fill  it  eight  feet  in 
one  winter,  after  the  dam  is  made. 

From  hence,  to  Byram  Pond,  the  land  rises  considerably  ;  and 
a  large  quantity  of  rain  water  (alls  annually  within  this  section. 
The  Byram  stream,  when  guaged  on  the  1 6th  November,  above 
the  junction  with  the  Wampus,  gave  8,366,000  gallons  passing  in 
twenty  four  hours.  The  Byram  Pond,  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  may  be  raised  ten  feet  above  its  present  level,  and  drawn 
down  six  feet  below.  The  rise  would  only  flood  about  twenty- 
five  acres  of  wet  meadow  land;  and  501,626,000  gallons  would 
be  reserved,  beside  the  current  supply,  when  the  Pond  is  once 
filled.  From  the  quantity  of  water  running  off  the  surrounding 
high-lands,  this  may  be  effected  in  twelve  months.  It  would  be 
requisite  to  change  a  line  of  low  road,  on  the  north  end  of  the 
Pond,  so  as  to  bring  it  above  the  increased  height  of  water  ;  the 
cost  of  doing  this,  was  estimated  on  the  spot  at  $400 

The  Wampus  Pond  lies  high,  and  has  not  any  considerable  sur- 
rounding surface  of  land,  whence  the  fall  of  rain  would  raise  it  if 


255  [Doc.  l*o.  61. 


embanked  higher  than  it  now  is  ;  and  by  information  derived 
from  the  owners  of  the  contiguous  mills,  it  appears  to  vary  very 
little  all  the  year.  When  gauged  on  the  l6th  November,  the  out- 
let gave  1,735,000  gallons  in  twenty-four  hours,  and  this  quantity 
is  fuliy  trebled  from  additional  streams  and  springs  by  the  time  it 
unites  with  the  Bvram  River.  The  two,  jointly,  will  give  13,573,000 
gallons  daily.  Wampus  Pond  can  be  lowered  eight  feet,  and  thus 
furnish  1 14,956,lft)  gallons  of  reservoir,  as  indicated  in  the  ac- 
companying table. 

There  is  another  course  through  which  the  waters  of  the  Byram 
and  Wampus  may  be  connected  with  the  Bronx.  The  surplus 
water  may  be  taken  south  westerly,  through  a  village  called  Mile- 
square,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Wampus  Pond.  Here  a 
short  deep  cut  or  tunnel,  will  bring  it  into  the  west  branch  of  the 
Bronx,  by  a  course  lying  entirely  within  the  State  of  New  York. 

Thus  far,  our  labors  and  observations  were  continued  jointly  ; 
Mr.  Serrell  returned  to  New  York,  to  proceed  with  the  report, 
that  it  might  be  ready,  as  desired  by  the  Committee,  at  the  earli- 
est convenient  day. 

My  instructions  required  that  I  should  proceed  to  the  Croton 
River,  to  examine  if  it  was  practicable  to  connect  its  waters  with 
those  of  the  Saw- Mill  and  Bronx  ;  or  if  any  of  its  tributary  streams 
could  be  given  the  same  direction. 

I  was  particularly  directed  to  examine  the  Muscoot  River, 
which  flows  from  the  Mahopack  or  "  Tomahawk"  Pond,  situated 
in  the  town  of  Carmel,  and  learn  if  this  stream  could  be  conducted 
near  to  the  Croton,  at  so  high  a  level  as  that  it  might  be  brought 
over  its  valley  by  an  aqueduct,  and  directed  to  the  head  waters  of 
the  Saw-Mill  River,  and  thus  aid  the  general  supply. 

I  found  the  Cross  River,  a  branch  of  the  Croton,  flowiug,  at  a 
level,  near  the  village  of  u  Cross  River,"  sufficiently  high  to  be 
connected  with  the  Kisco  River,  near  Kirby's  Mill  Pond,  in  New 
Castle  ;  and  it  may  be  united,  by  a  long  deep  cut,  with  the  Saw- 
Mill  River.  The  cost  of  a  canal  or  tunnel  about  ten  miles  in 
length,  would  be  so  great,  that  I  consider  it  financially  impracti- 
cable. 

I  could  not  discover,  nor  do  I  believe,  from  an  examination  of 
many  miles  of  the  valley  of  the  Croton,  that  it  is  possible  to 
bring  any  of  its  waters  to  mingle  with  those  of  the  Saw-Mill  or 


0 


Doc.  No.  6L]  256 


Bronx,  without  the  aid  of  expensive  machines,  from  the  grea* 
height  the  water  must  be  elevated. 

I  found  the  Muscoot  a  very  small  stream,  and  running:  nearly  as 
low  as  the  Croton,  three  miles  from  its  mouth  ;  the  grounds  on  its 
banks  broken  and  mountainous  to  such  an  extent,  as  to  render  it 
impossible  to  gain  any  thing  from  it. 

I  then  proceeded  up  the  valley  of  the  Kisco,  which  discharges 
its  waters  into  the  Croton,  near  Pine's  Bridge.  This  river  has 
its  main  source  in  a  large  pond,  in  an  extensive  valley,  at  the 
outlet  of  which  are  Kirby's  Mills 

By  raising  the  dam  at  the  outlet  seven  feet,  I  am  assured  by  the 
proprietor,  that  one  thousand  acres  can  be  ponded,  and  the  wa- 
ter will  flow  near  to  the  north-westerly  side  of  ^Wampus  pond. 
I  assume  that  five  hundred  acres  may  be  overflown,  and  all  low, 
wetland,  of  little  value.  The*  proprietor  of  the  mills  assures  me 
that  he  will  not  object  to  its  use  if  his  property  is  not  injured,  or 
lie  is  fairly  compensated  for  such  of  it  as  is  used  for  this  purpose. 

By  raising  the  dam  seven  feet,  and  reducing  the  outlet  four  feet, 
we  shall  have  an  accession  of  1,436,952,000  gallons,  which  added 
to  the  stores  of  the  Rye,  Wampus,  and  Byram,  will  give  an  aggre- 
gate available  supply  of  2,876,819,040  gallons,  which  ran  be 
held  in  reserve  when  once  filled,  (which  i  think  they  may  be  in 
two  years,)  in  addition  to  the  ordinary  flow  of  the  rivers  and  ponds* 
This  quantity  will  be  equal  to  7,881,696  gallons,  each  day  in  the 
year. 

The  water  of  the  Kisco  Pond  can  be  connected  with  the  east 
branch  of  the  Saw  Mill  River,  by  a  canal  or  tunnel  of  about  two 
and  a  half  miles  in  length.  The  ground  is  favorable,  but  one 
deep  cut  will  be  necessary,  about  six  hundred  feet  long  and  twenty 
feet  deep.  The  waters  thus  connected,  can  be  easily  and  cheaply 
conducted  to  a  branch  of  the  Bronx,  from  the  Saw  Mill  River,  by 
a  short  canal,  commencing  near  Unionville  church.  By  this  course, 
the  mills  on  the  Saw-Mill  River  will  not  be  injured,  and  additional 
reservoirs  can  be  formed  in  its  valley,  if  ever  needed. 

It  must  be  evident  to  those  acquainted  with  the  annual  fall  of 
water  in  this  climate,  that  there  is  a  wanton  waste,  or  loss  of  this 
element  in  this  section  of  country,  from  some  cause  ;  and  that  it 
will  not  be  necessary  to  resort  to  other  sources  of  supply,  for  many 
centuries,  if  a  small  portion  of  what  falls,  is  properly  husbanded. 


257  [Doc.  No.  61. 


Doctor  Baxter  lias"  kindly  furnished  me  with  the  quantity  of 
water  which  has  fallen  in  this  City  for  the  last  five  years,  as  indi- 
cated hy  a  rain-gauge  kept  by  him.  The  annual  average  fall  is 
forty  five  inches. 

By  a  careful  inspection  of  the  maps,  and  extensive  travel  over 
the  country  from  which  the  water  flows  into  the  Bronx,  and  can 
be  conducted  to  it,  from  the  river  and  ponds  I  have  enumerated, 
I  am  satisfied  that  a  flow  from  75,000  acres  can  be  depended  on. 

The  annual  fall  of  water  would  then  be,  75,071,489,361  gal- 
lons ;  equal  to  a  supply  of  205,675,313  gallons  daily. 

Ttie  quantity  lost  by  evaporation,  in  so  hilly  and  rocky  a  coun- 
try as  this,  is  comparatively  small,  to  what  it  is  in  more  even  and 
sandy  soils.  It  is  difficult  to  ascertain,  or  estimate,  what  the 
amount  of  evaporation  may  be.  It  must  be  inconsiderable,  com- 
pared with  the  immense  supply,  as  clearly  shown  by  the  great 
floods  which  often  sweep  the  narrow  vallies,  and  destroy  much 
valuable  property. 

To  the  question,  "  What  becomes  of  this  immense  quantity  of 
•water  ?"  I  can  answer  in  part.  From  the  nature  of  the  soil,  and 
rapid  fall  of  the  rivers  and  streams,  it  runs  quickly  to  the  sea,  and 
is  lost  in  the  ocean.  The  art  of  man  has  not  arrested  it  in  its 
course,  and  stored  it  for  his  future  use. 

Should  farther  examinations  prove  it  advisable  to  take  the  ac- 
cumulated waters  out  of  the  Bronx,  at  some  point  below  Under- 
bill's Mills,  other  extensive  reservoirs  may  be  constructed  in  its 
valley.  The  opinion  is  ventured,  that  by  the  arrangements  indi- 
cated in  this  Report,  many  millions  of  gallons  may  be  preserved 
for  the  daily  use  of  the  mills  on  the  Bronx,  when  most  needed, 
by  which  they  will  be  most  materially  benefited,  not  injured;  at 
the  same  time  the  city  can  command  an  ample  supply  for  all  pre- 
sent and  future  uses.  The  examinations  have  been  as  extensive 
and  minute  as  the  short  time  allowed  would  permit.  The  result 
is  a  conviction,  that  a  canal  or  tunnel  on  a  high  level  is  not  the 
best  or  safest  mode  of  obtaining  water  ;  and  that  it  ought  not  to 
be  attempted.  That  the  Croton  River  cannot  be  brought  in  by 
this  route,  and  cannot  ever  be  needed  ;  that  the  quantity  which 
can  be  obtained,  at  a  moderate  cost,  through  the  valley  of  the 
Bronx,  will  be  sufficient  for  all  the  city  purposes  ;  that  the  water 
is  of  the  purest  and  best  kind  for  all  domestic  and  manufacturing 
uses  5  that  much  more  extensive  and  careful  investigation  is  re- 


Doc.  No.  61.]  *5S 


quisite,  before  a  combined  plan  of  operations  can  be  formed,  by 
which  all  the  details  can  be  fully  understood,  and  these  important 
objects  accomplished.  The  experience  of  Philadelphia  may  af- 
ford a  useful  lesson,  to  those  who  would  come  to  hasty  conclusions 
about  a  work,  that  requires  much  consideration,  and  great  skill  to 
perfect. 

1  am  gratified  to  find  by  examination,  that  the  facts  stated,  and 
positions  assumed, by  those  eminent  engineers,  Judge  Wright  nud 
Mr.  Canvas  White,  both  as  to  the  quantity  of  water,  and  means 
of  connecting  the  different  streams,  are  fully  sustained,  so  far  as  I 
have  examined  the  same  ground.  The  best  feelings  prevail 
among  the  inhabitants  with  whom  we  have  associated,  and  we 
cannot  do  less  than  publicly  thank  them,  for  tUe  ready  and  frank 
manner  in  which  they  have  answered  all  our  inquiries,  and  aided 
us  to  acquire  correct,  as  well  as  useful  information. 

We  are,  with  great  respect, 

Your  obedient  servants, 

TIMOTHY  DEWEY. 
WM.  SERRELL. 

Note. — On  the  24th  inst.  there  was  flowing  over  the  dam,  at  the 
West  Chester  Cotton  Factory,  eight  and  a  half  inches  by  sixty 
feet.  The  manager  who  has  had  the  charge  of  the  work,  assures 
me,  that  they  have  never  wanted  water  in  the  past  ten  years,  suf- 
ficient to  drive  all  the  machinery.  Measurements,  taken  previous 
to  the  late  rains,  showed  a  flow  of  about  40,000,000  of  gallons 
every  twenty-four  hours.  T.  D. 


259 


[Doc.  No  61. 


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TO  ALDERMAN  JAMES  PALMER,  CHAIRMAN  OF  THE  COMMITTEE 
ON  FIRE  AND  WATER. 

Chemical  Examination  of  the  Water  of  Rye  Pond. 
Specific  Gravity,  1,004. 

1.  By  Tests. — A  solution  of  soap  in  alcohol,  disturbed  the 
transparency  of  the  water  ;  indicating  the  presence  of  saline  mat- 
ter. 

2.  Nitrate  of  Silver  gave  a  milkiness,  indicating  muriatic  acid. 

3.  Acetate  of  lead  had  a  slight  effect,  owing,  probably,  to  a  lit- 
tle carbonic  acid,  held  in  solution  by  the  water. 

4.  None  of  the  barylic  salts  had  any  effect.  The  water  there- 
fore contains  no  sulphates,  nor  indeed,  had  any  other^  test  that 
was  tried. 

The  water  reduced  by  evaporation. 

5.  Nitrate  of  silver  gave  a* precipitate,  more  copious  than  that  of 
the  fresh  water.  This  piecipitate  very  soon  turned  purple  brown, 
owing  to  the  action  of  light  on  the  chloride,  also  indicative  of  the 
presence  of  extractive  matter. 

6.  Oxalate  of  ammonia  gave  a  trifling  precipitate,  showing  the 
presence  of  lime. 

7.  Carbonate  of  ammonia  had  no  visible  effect,  but  when  a  lit- 
tle phosphoric  acid  was  added,  a  precipitate  subsided,  announcing 
the  existence  of  magnesia. 

Evaporation  to  dryness^  8fc. 

8.  One  quart  of  the  water  was  slowly  evaporated  in  a  silver  basin, 
until  the  reduced  contents  could  be  contained  in  a  small  platina 
dish,  weight  241  grains  ;  transferred  to  this  vessel  the  evaporation 
was  continued  to  dryness.  The  dish,  with  the  residuum  weighed, 
warm,  241.6  grains,  having  increased,  in  weight  only,  six-tenths 
of  a  grain.    The  water,  towards  the  lust,  had  a  wine  yellow  color. 

9.  The  dish  with  the  residuum,  which  was  brown,  was  exposed 
to  a  red  heat.  The  extractive  matter  was  converted  into  char- 
coal, and  burnt  off,  leaving  only  three-tenths  of  a  grain  for  saline 
matter  ;  but  as  a  little  muriatic  acid  probably  left  the  magnesia, 
the  vegetable  extractive  might  amount  to  two-tenths  only. 


261 


[Doe.  No.  6L 


These  experiments  warrant  the  conclusion,  that  a  gallon  of  the 
Eye  Pond  water  contains 

Muriate  of  lime  and  magnesia  1*6  grains, 
Vegetable  extract,    ....  0.8 

2-4 

G.  CHILTON. 


New-  York,  1 1  th  December,  1 832.  ! 

TO  ALDERMAN  JAMES  PALMER. 

hear  Sir, 

I  have  received  your  request  to  try  the  purity  of  the  water 
obtained  from  Rye  Pond,  the  source  of  the  river  Bronx,  and  from 
which  it  has  been  contemplated  to  supply  this  City  with  that  arti- 
cle. The  experiments  which  I  have  already  made,  will  perhaps 
answer  the  desired  purpose. 

Some  years  since,  I  went  to  West  Farms,  and  procured  some  of 
the  water  of  the  Bronx,  near  where  it  was  intended  to  divert  the 
stream  as  contemplated  by  the  Water  Works  Company,  and  sub- 
mitted it  to  the  following  experiments. 

1.  A  quart  of  the  water  evaporated  over  a  spirit  lamp,  left  a 
small  residuum,  being  in  weight  about  half  a  grain.  Most  of  the 
pump  water  of  the  City  contains  several  times  that  amount  of 
earthy  matter,  as  ascertained  by  myself  and  others. 

2.  Soap  dissolved  in  the  Bronx  water  without  curdling,  and  it 
made  a  fine  soft  lather,  showing  it  to  be  a  good  and  pure  water, 
without  a  perceptible  quantity  of  foreign  matter. 

3.  Caustic  soda  was  added  to  a  portion  of  the  water,  to  precipi- 
tate such  earthy  or  other  substance  it  might  contain.  It  remained 
one  whole  day  without  alteration,  but  finally  a  very  slight  precipi- 
tate was  observed,  showing  a  small  quantity  of  diffusible  or  soluble 
substance  in  it. 

4.  Nitrate  of  silver  is  a  test  for  common  or  sea-salt ;  but  on  be- 
ing added  to  the  water,  produced  no  change.  This  experiment 
shows  the  absence  of  that  article  in  the  Bronx  water,  but  it  is  very 
common  in  our  pump  water. 

5.  The  Muriate  of  Barytes  on  being  added,  produced  no'change, 
showing  the  absence  of  sulphate  of  lime,  which  abounds  in  our 
City  water. 


Doc.  No.  61. j 


6.  The  Nitrate  of  Bai ytes  gave  the  same  result,  and  afforded 
the  same  conclusion. 

7-  These  experiments  were  also  tried  on  a  portion  of  the  water 
after  it  was  partly  evaporated,  and  yet  the  test  produced  no 
change,  giving  further  assurance  of  its  freedom  from  sulphuric  salts. 

8.  The  Oxalate  of  Ammonia,  when  added,  produced  no  imme- 
diate change  ;  but  after  a  while,  a  very  slight  cloudiness,  indica- 
tive of  a  minute  quantity  of  lime. 

9-  Tincture  of  Galls  gave  no  indication  of  iron. 

These  and  some  other  experiments  made  at  the  same  time, 
proved  that  the  water  of  the  river  Bronx,  was  remarkably  pure 
and  soft,  containing  a  very  small  portion  of  lime,  and  a  still  smaller 
one  of  vegetable  matter,  making  together  not  more  than  two 
grains  in  a  gallon.  Some  of  our  City  water  contains  several 
grains  of  earthy  matter  in  a  tjuart,  making  it,  in  comparison  with 
that  of  the  Bronx,  a  very  impuie  article  I  am  inclined  to  be- 
lieve, however,  from  experiments  made  last  year,  that  the  water 
from  the  public  Well  at  the  Reservoir,  in  Thirteenth-street,  i? 
equally  as  pure  as  that  of  the  Bronx. 

1  am  respectfully,  your  most  obedient, 

SAMUEL  AKERLY. 


Grand-Street,  WtK  mo.  27th,  1832. 

TO   ALDERMAN  JAMES  PALMER,  CHAIRMAN  OF   THE   COMMITTEE  ON 
FIRE  AND  WATER. 

Respected  Friend, 

I  regret  that  the  circumstance  of  being  on  the  eve  of  a  re- 
moval of  my  residence  from  this  city,  and  the  cares  if  cident  to 
the  needful  prepartion?  do  not  leave  me  sufficient  time  to  examine 
the  Rye  Pond  Water  (a  bottle  of  which  I  received  from  the  Com- 
mittee) with  that  scrupulous  care,  which  the  complete  analysis  of 
a  water  always  requires. 

I  have  bestowed  upon  it,  however,  sufficient  attention  to  prove 
that  is  a  remarkably  fine  water.  Its  specific  gravity,  ascertained 
by  several  methods,  is  1.00065  that  of  pure  water,  being  1.00000. 
I  took,  at  the  same  time,  the  specific  gravity  of  water  from  a 
pump  at  the  corner  of  Reed  and  Elm-street,  and  found  it  1.00228. 
This,  as  well  as  the  application  of  almost  every  chemical  test 


263 


[Doc.  No.  61. 


shows  a  most  decided  and  striking  difference  in  the  qualities  of 
the  Rye  Pond  and  our  City  water. 

The  tests  which  I  applied  to  the  Rye  Pond  water  were, 


Others  might  have  been  used,  but  these  are  sufficient  to  indicate 
the  nature  of  a  water  which  is  not  decidely  of  a  mineral  character. 

On  the  water  of  Rye  Pond,  as  contained  in  the  bottle  sent  me, 
none  of  these  tests  have  any  sensible  effect,  except  the  second, 
fifth,  and  sixth. 

The  second,  when  added  to  the  water,  produced  no  immediate 
change,  but  after  standing  a  few  minutes,  a  slight  cloudiness  is  ap- 
parent. This  indicates  the  presence  of  lime,  but  it  must  exist  in 
the  water  in  extremely  small  quantity. 

The  fifth  test  produced,  instantly,  a  bluish  cloud,  denoting 
(when  considered  in  connexion  with  the  other  tests)  the  presence 
of  vegetable  extractive  matter,  (the  presence  of  a  sulphuric  salt 
would  have  produced  a  similar  appearance,  but  the  precipitate 
was  soluble  in  nitric  acid,  a  result  incompatible  with  the  existence 
of  a  sulphate)  but,  nevertheless,  in  very  small  proportions. 

The  sixth  test  is  used  to  show  the  relative  hardness  or  softness 
of  water,  and  its  effect  in  the  present  instance,  proves  that  the 
Rye  Pond  is,  comparatively,  a  very  soft  water. 

The  first  test  is  to  ascertain  whether  common  salt,  or  any  of 
the  muriates  (now  called  hydrochlorates)  is  present  in  the  water. 
These  are  the  most  common  ingredients  in  all  our  natural  spring 
waters.  The  delicacy  of  the  test  is  such,  that,  although  it  has  no 
sensible  effect  on  the  Rye  Pond  waters,  a  few  drops  of  our  pump 
water,  being  added  to  a  wine  glass  of  the  Rye  Pond,  a  cloud  is 
immediately  produced. 

I  next  evaporated  a  portion  of  the  water,  at  a  temperature  be- 
low boiling,  to  less  than  one  half  its  quantity,  and  when  cool,  I 
again  applied  the  tests.  It  is  obvious,  that  whatever  foreign  mat- 
ters the  water  contains  in  its  natural  state  (excepting  those  of  a 
gaseous  nature)  it  would  now  contain  in  more  than  double  the 


both  fresh  prepared. 


10 


Doc.  No  61/J 


proportion.  On  this  concentrated  water,  the  third  and  fourth 
tests  had  no  effect,  demonstrating  the  entire  absence  of  nil  t'>e 
sulphuric  salts  ;  such  as  sulphate  of  lime  (gypsum)  winch  so 
abounds  in  our  pump  water,  as  to  occasion  an  immediate  precipi- 
tate when  a  few  drops  of  that  water  is  added  to  a  wine  glass  of 
the  Rvc  Fond  water. 

On  the  concentrated  water,  the  first  test  produces  an  effect  but 
just  perceptible. 

The  seventh,  no  effect ;  showing  the  absence  of  iron.  It  is  not 
likely,  I  think,  that  the  water  contains  any  metallic  impregnation, 
in  quantities  appreciable  by  the  common  methods. 

The  fifth  and  sixth  tests  produced  increased  turbidness  in  con- 
centrated water.  , 

To  ascertain  the  actual  quantity  of  soluble  matter,  not  gaseous, 
I  evaporated  about  a  quart  o/  the  water  over  a  lamp,  in  a  clean 
porcelain  capsule,  to  dryness.  This  dry  powder  was  collected 
and  weighed.  The  weight  did  not  exceed  half  a  grain.  I  ought 
to  observe,  that  when  half  evaporated,  I  filtered  it,  to  get  rid  of  a 
little  dust  that  had  accidentally  settled  upon  it.  There  was  no 
appearance  of  flocculi  in  either  of  my  evaporations. 

The  powder  remaining,  was  of  a  brown  grey  colour.  It  had  a 
sharp,  saline  taste,  somewhat  bitter,  and  as  it  effervesces  both  with 
dilute  sulphuric  and  muriatic  acid,  a  considerable  portion  of  it  at 
least,  must  be  a  carbonate. 

Upon  the  whole,  the  inferences  I  should  draw  from  this  exami- 
nation are, — First,  that  the  Rye  Pond  water  does  not  contain 
more  than  two  grains  of  foreign  matter  to  a  gallon  ;  a  quantity 
altogether  too  small  to  be  perceived  by  the  test,  to  operate  inju- 
riously upon  health,  or  unfavourably  upon  any  kind  of  manufac- 
ture. Second,  that  the  soluble  matter  of  this  water,  consists  of 
vegetable  extract,  carbonate  and  muriate  of  lime,  and,  possibly, 
a  smali  portion  of  magnesia  combined  with  carbonic  or  muriatic 
acid. 

May  I  be  allowed  to  close  this  account,  with  the  expression  of  an 
ardent  wish,  that  the  Corporation  may  apply  itself  in  good  earn- 
est to  the  means  of  supplying  this  large  and  growing  metropolis, 
with  copious  streams  of  an  article  so  essential  to  the  health  and 
domestic  comfort  of  its  inhabitants,  and  which  Rye  Pond  and  the 
adjacent  streams  will  furnish  in  requisite  purity. 

I  am,  with  great  respect,  &c. 

JOHN  GRISCOMB 


To  the  Corporation  of  the  City  of  Vcw-York. 

The  following  Memoir  of  the  utility  and  means  of  furnishing  the 
City  with  Water  from  the  river  Bronx,  is  respectfully  addressed 
by  their  very  humble  servant^ 

JOSEPH  BROWNE. 

West  Chester,  July  2d,  1798. 

In  a  little  treatise  1  have  lately  published,  addressed  to  the  citizens 
of  New- York  on  the  yellow  fever,  I  have  endeavoured  to  show  that 
the  disease  is  of  a  local  nature,  arising  principally  from  a  source 
which  is  pietty  much  in  our  power  to  prevent  or  remove  by  an 
unremitted  attention  to  cleanliness,  to  which  purpose  it  is  obvious 
that  a  plentiful  supply  of  water  is  essentially  necessary.  It  may 
not  be  amiss  here  to  recapitulate  concisely  the  principles  on 
which  I  have  founded  my  theory. 

All  animals  and  vegetables  are  in  a  perpetual  state  of  decom- 
position and  renovation  ;  the  organic  principles  of  those  two  king- 
doms are  nearly  the  same,  but  differently  modified,  and  which 
mutually  depend  on  each  other  for  their  vitality  ;  this  reciprocity 
is  effected  through  the  medium  of  the  atmosphere,  which  instead 
of  being  a  simple  element,  is  now  well  ascertained  to  be  a  com- 
pound of  two  gasses  or  airs,  unequally  combined  as  to  quantity ; 
the  smaller  quantity  which  is  only  about  twenty-eight  per  cent, 
of  the  whole,  contributes  principally  to  the  support  of  animal  life, 
by  t!ie  intervention  of  lungs  or  something  corresponding  thereto, 
and  may  therefore  be  called  animal  vital  air.  The  residue  of 
sevt:nty-two  per  cent,  contributes  to  the  support  of  vegetables, 
through  the  agency  of  their  leaves,  and  may  therefore  with  pro- 
priety be  called  vegetable  vital  air.  It  is  to  be  remarked,  that 
both  of  those  kingdoms,  when  in  a  state  of  putrefaction  or  decom- 
position, furnish  the  latter  species  of  air  only  in  which  animals 
cannot  exist,  but  in  which  vegetables  thrive  well.  The  putrefac- 
tive state  of  vegetables  takes  place  only  after  the  death  of  the 
plant ;  but  animals  have  a  constant  tendency  to  this  state  during 
life,  which  is  more  or  less  strong,  according  to  the  temperature  of 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


2m 


the  atmosphere,  and  which  tendency  is  counteracted  by  the  gaa 
that  is  received  by  breathing  into  the  lungs,  and  separated  by 
them  from  the  atmospheric  air,  which  is  known  to  be  the  basis  of 
acidity,  and  has  for  this  reason  been  called  by  the  French  Acade- 
micians, Oxygen.  Whenever,  therefore,  greater  excess  than  se- 
venty two  per  cent,  of  vegetable  vital  air  prevails  in  the  atmos- 
phere, the  animal  vital  air  must  decrease  in  the  same  proportion  ; 
consequently  the  proneness  that  animals  have  to  a  putrefactive 
state  not  being  sufficiently  overcome  by  this  acid  principle,  dis- 
eases of  a  more  or  less  putrid  nature  must  be  the  result,  in  propor- 
tion as  the  deficiency  is  more  or  less  great,  or  the  tendency  more 
or  less  strong. 

If  this  theory  be  just,  it  is  of  the  utmost  imp6rtance  to  remove 
from  the  houses,  streets,  and  docks,  every  species  of  animal  and 
vegetable  matter  when  in  a  putrefactive  state,  to  which  nothing 
so  effectually  contributes  as  a  plentiful  supply  of  water. 

Water  is  not  only  of  infinite  importance  to  the  health  of  the 
City,  considered  in  a  mechanical  point  of  view,  but  from  its  known 
constituent  parts,  it  may  also  be  made  to  contribute  to  the  same 
end  chymically,  being  a  compound  pf  eighty  five  parts  of  animal 
vital  air,  and  fifteen  of  hydrogen  or  inflammable  air.  Water, 
therefore,  appears  to  be  Nature's  great  magazine,  in  which  is  locked 
up  an  incalculable  quantity  of  this  most  indispensable  requisite  to 
animal  existence,  which  is  let  loose  in  its  aerial  state,  by  abstract- 
ing from  it  the  hydrogen,  with  which  it  is  combined.  This  pro- 
cess is  constantly  performing  by  vegetables,  when  in  a  state  of 
verdure,  whose  leaves  when  moistened  with  dew,  or  sprinkled  with 
water,  having  a  greater  affinity  or  attraction  for  the  hydrogen, 
than  hydrogen  has  for  animal  vital  air,  a  decomposition  of  the 
water  takes  place,  the  hydrogen  becomes  fixed  in  the  plant,  and 
the  animal  vital  air  being  thus  disengaged,  is  poured  into  the  at- 
mosphere to  be  from  thence  again  absorbed  by  animals,  without 
which,  their  existence  ceases. 

This  fact  suggests  the  propriety  and  utility  of  encouraging  the 
planting  of  trees  in  all  such  streets  as  are  not  too  confined,  which 
trees  should  be  frequently  in  warm  weather  sprinkled  with  wa- 
ter. 

On  philosophical  principles  also,  the  air  of  a  city  may  be  ren- 
dered more  salubrious  by  frequently  sprinkling  the  streets  with 
water  in  dry,  hot  weather,  by  which  means  a  rapid  evapora- 


267 


[Doc.  No.  61. 


tion  takes  place.  In  the  East  and  West  Indies,  the  cooling  of 
liquors  by  surrounding  the  bottles  with  wet  cloths,  and  exposing 
them  to  a  current  of  air,  is  a  practice  well  known  ;  the  following 
theory  accounts  for  the  fact. 

The  heat  or  caloric  with  which  all  bodies  are  combined,  has  a 
a  constant  tendency  to  equalise  itself  with  all  surrounding  bodies, 
a  process  which  is  longer  or  shorter  in  its  operation,  in  proportion 
as  those  adjoining  bodies  have  a  less  or  greater  affinity  for  calo- 
ric The  same  body  with  different  quantities  of  caloric,  may  be 
either  solid,  liquid,  or  aeriform  ;  for  instance,  water  with  less  calo- 
ric becomes  ice,  with  more  it  becomes  vapour.  Water  is  one  of 
those  substances  that  has  a  peculiar  aptitude  to  combine  itself 
with  a  surplus  of  caloric,  which  then  assumes  the  state  of  vapour, 
and  flies  off,  leaving  the  body  with  which  it  was  previously  com- 
bined, cooler  in  proportion  as  this  new  combination  has  taken 
place.  The  sun  itself  is  probably  not  hot,  it  may  have  only  the 
faculty  of  excitement,  that  is,  of  evolving  caloric  from  a  latent  to 
a  perceptible  state,  and  this  excitement  is  generally  in  proportion 
to  the  density  and  colour  of  the  body  on  which  it  acts  ;  its  effects 
are  therefore  scarcely,  if  at  all,  perceptible  in  its  passage  through 
the  atmosphere,  which  can  only  be  heated  by  coming  in  contact 
with  some  more  solid  body  that  has  felt  its  influence. 

Since  IN ew- York  has  been  paved,  the  bricks  in  the  streets,  in  hot 
summer  days,  are  frequently  heated  to  150  degrees  of  Fahren- 
hiet's  Thermometer  ;  the  surrounding  atmospheric  air  must, 
therefore,  slowly  partake  of  this  heat,  and  consequently,  become 
more  rare,  which  is,  I  conceive,  one  of  the  causes  of  its  insalubrity, 
for  the  same  volume  of  atmospheric  air  will  not  contain  half  as 
much  animal  vital  air  when  the  Thermometer  is  at  90,  as  it  does 
when  at  32.  That  is,  a  cubical  foot  of  atmospheric  air  does  not 
weigh  half  as  much  in  summer  as  in  winter,  which  is  probably  the 
reason  why  frosty  weather  is  so  sure  an  antidote  to  the  yellow  fe- 
yer.  Whatever  then,  will  in  any  degree  tend  to  cool  the  air  of 
the  City,  will,  in  the  same  proportion,  render  it  more  healthful. 

I  do  not  presume  to  say  that  the  introduction  of  a  large  quantity 
of  water  into  the  City,  would  alone  prevent  the  rise  and  spread- 
ing of  putrid  diseases,  but  I  am  well  warranted  in  saying  that,  un- 
der providence,  it  would  more  than  all  other  things,  contribute  to 
this  most  desirable  end. 


Doc.  No.  61.]  268 


Next  to  pestilence,  lire  may  be  reckoned  the  greatest  calamity 
to  which  Cities  arc  subject.  I  need  not  take  up  any  of  your 
time  in  mentioning  the  immense  advantages  of  always  hat  ing  at 
hand  a  plentiful  supply  of  water,  on  such  a  melancholy  occasion. 
Those  two  motives  are  alone,  one  would  suppose,  sufficient  in- 
ducements to  procure,  almost  at  any  price,  a  permanent  and  plen- 
tiful supply  of  water,  as  the  principal  means  of  preventing  or  at 
least,  diminishing  such  catastrophes  ;  but  exclusive  of  those  advan- 
tages, there  is  another,  though  of  a  secondary  nature,  yet  as  a 
source  of  comfort  and  pleasure,  is  well  deserving  attention. 

Thers  is  nothing  in  warm  climates  that  blends  the  useful  and 
agreeable  so  much  as  public  fountains  and  private  baths.  In  anci- 
ent Rome,  they  were  deemed  not  only  luxuries,  but  became  al- 
most necessaries,  for  every  garden  had  its  fountain,  and  almost 
every  house  its  bath.  The  art  of  conducting  waters  from  different 
sources  to  their  Cities,  (but  principally  Rome,)  and  the  distribution 
made  of  them  among  the  Citizens,  was  esteemed  by  the  Princes 
and  chief  Magistrates  of  sufficient  importance  to  deserve  every  at- 
tention. Rome  was  furnished  with  water  from  ten  principal  aque- 
ducts, at  the  rate  of  nearly  three  hundred  millions  of  gallons  daily : 
it  was  conveyed  to  large  covered  reservoirs,  from  whence  it  was 
distributed  by  subterraneous  tubes,  to  fountains  in  different  parts 
of  the  City,  and  from  thence  it  was  conveyed  to  their  houses  and 
gardens.  These  fountains  were  one  of  the  principal  ornaments  of 
the  City,  being  accompanied  with  statues  of  marble  and  bronze. 

All  these  works  were  maintained  with  the  greatest  order  and 
discipline,  which  requiring  great  authority,  the  Consuls,  and  even 
the  Emperors  themselves,  made  it  a  part  of  their  immediate  duty, 
regarding  the  supplying  of  the  City  with  water  as  a  thing  of  the 
first  importance.  The  Consuls  had,  for  a  long  time,  the  superin- 
tendance  of  the  aqueducts,  but  afterwards,  this  part  of  their  duty 
was  consigned  to  the  Ediles  until  the  time  of  Agustus,  who,  to  re- 
compense Marcus  Agrippa  for  the  extraordinary  pains  he  had 
been  at  during  his  Edileship,  who  had  caused  to  be  made  seven 
hundred  reservoirs,  one  hundred  and  thirty  chateaux  d'eau,  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty  pumps,  magnificently  decorated,  created 
him  superintendant  of  the  water  works,  and  President  of  a  com- 
pany of  240  officers  or  commissioners.  There  was  afterwards 
another  company  established,  consisting  of  460  persons,  both  of 
which  companies  were  divided  into  different  departments,  whose 


[Doc.  No.  61. 


exclusive  employment  was  the  conducting  and  distributing  water 
through  the  City.  The  expense  of  those  water  works,  as  may 
well  be  imagined,  was  immense,  it  amounted  to  upwards  of  one 
million  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  annually,  including  the  sala- 
ries of  the  officers,  and  the  repairs  of  the  aqueducts,  basins,  foun- 
tains, &c.  Each  Citizen  paid  in  proportion  to  the  quantity  of  wa- 
ter he  was  supplied  with,  and  even  this  sum  was  some  years  ina- 
dequate to  the  purpose  ;  an  extraordinary  tax,  therefore,  some- 
times became  necessary. 

The  principal  Cities  of  modern  Europe,  to  be  furnished  with 
water,  are  obliged  to  have  it  brought  to  them  at  considerable  ex- 
pense, particularly  London  and  Paris  ;  the  former  of  those  Cities, 
exclusive  of  the  immense  quantity  that  is  daily  forced  from  the 
Thames,  by  means  of  large  water-wheels  that  are  turned  by  its 
current,  and  also  by  steam  engines,  is  largely  indebted  to  the  pa- 
triotic and  great  exertions  of  a  single  individual,  a  Mr.  Hugh  fvlid- 
dleton,  Citizen  and  Gold  Smith  of  the  City  of  London,  who  in  the 
year  L6l4,  having  obtained  an  Act  of  Parliament  for  the  purpose, 
brought  in  an  open  canal  to  London,  the  water  from  the  Am- 
Well  and  Shad-Well,  in  Hertfordshire,  a  distance  of  more  than 
twenty  miles.  It  is  conveyed  to  a  large  reservoir  near  Islington, 
from  whence  it  is  distributed  in  Elm  pipes  to  most  parts  of  the 
City.  This  water  is  now  called  the  New  River,  and  is  said  to  run 
under  near  800  bridges. 

Paris  is  also  supplied  with  water  from  the  Seine,  in  a  similar 
manner  as  London  is  from  the  Thames  ;  but  those  parts  of  the 
City  that  are  distant  from  the  Seine  are  supplied  with  water  from 
springs  in  the  neighbouring  eminences  of  Belleville,  pres  St.  Ger- 
vais,  and  Rungis,  which  is  conducted  to  the  City  in  subterraneous 
tubes,  to  different  reservoirs  and  fountains,  accompanied  with  all 
the  works  necessary  to  its  goodness  and  proper  distribution.  But 
the  most  celebrated  Water  Works  now  in  the  world,  are  those  that 
furnish  the  National  Palaces  and  Gardens  of  Marly  and  Versailles 
with  water.  They  were  constructed  for  Louis  XIV.  by  a  Mr. 
Rannequin  of  Leige,  and  are  a  monument  of  the  magnificence 
and  extravagence  of  that  king.  The  water  is  taken  from  the  riv- 
er Seine  and  forced  500  French  feet  above  the  level  of  that  river, 
to  a  large  reservoir,  by  means  of  three  sets  of  pumps ;  the  first 
set  carries  it  up  150  feet,  the  other  two  carrying  it  up  175  feet 
each ;  the  whole  number  of  pumps  employed  ate  253.  The 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


270 


quantity  of  water  formerly  raised  in  a  day  was  1,500,000  gallons, 
but  at  present,  owing  either  to  decay  or  neglect  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  machine,  it  does  not  now  raise  half  this  quantity. 
This  famous  aqueduct  is  said  to  have  cost  five  hundred  thousand 
pounds  sterling. 

Were  the  preceding;  purposes  the  only  ones  for  which  the  City 
of  New-York  wanted  a  supply  of  water,  it  might  easily  be  pro- 
cured in  any  quantity,  by  means  of  steam  engines,  from  the  rivers 
that  wash  the  shores  'of  the  city.  But  there  is  another,  and  of 
more  importance  in  the  opinion  of  the  majority  of  the  citizens  of 
New* York,  than  all  those  that  have  been  already  mentioned,  and 
for  which  purpose,  the  river  water  adjoining  the  City  cannot  be 
used,  (to  wit  )  for  the  constant  daily  consumption  of  families,  for 
drinking,  washing,  cooking,  &c  ;  for  those  occasions  we  must  look 
to  some  other  source.  < 

The  large  stagnating,  filthy  pond,  commonly  called  the  Collect, 
which  now  is,  or  soon  will  be,  the  centre  of  the  City,  has  been 
looked  to  by  some  people,  as  a  fund  from  whence  an  adequate 
supply  might  be  obtained,  by  means  of  a  steam  engine,*  for  all 
the  purposes  already  spoken  of.  I  cannot  undertake  to  say,  that 
this  source  would,  at  present,  be  incompetent  to  all  the  preceding 
purposes,  for  which  a  supply  of  water  is  wanted  ;  but  if  the  quan- 
tity naturally  discharged  from  this  pond,  be  the  whole  that  is  fur- 
ni?iied  by  its  springs,  then  I  might  say  with  propriety,  it  is  infi- 
nitely too  small  for  those  uses.  But  admitting,  that  at  present 
it  might  be  competent,  the  time  will  come,  and  that  very  shortly, 
from  the  growth  of  the  city,  when  this  source  will  most  certainly 
be  \ery  inadequate  to  the  demand.  And  again,  supposing  the 
pond  to  contain  and  furnish  enough,  it  is  a  consideration  well  de- 
serving attention,  whether  a  pond,  into  which  the  filth  from  many 
of  the  streets  must,  without  very  great  expense  and  care,  be  con- 
stantly discharged,  and  to  which  the  contents  of  vaults,  &c.  will 


*  Tbe  expense  of  a  steam  engine,  of  a  cylinder  sufficiently  large  to  force  up  300,000 
gallons  of  water  per  day,  a  height  of  forty  feet,  with  the  house,  apparatus,  and  pipes 
of  conduit  to  a  principal  reservoir,  including  the  cost  of  such  reservoir,  would  amount 
to  .r50,000 ;  such  a  steam  engine  would  consume,  daily,  a  chaldron  of  coals,  or  two 
cords  of  wood,  which  may  be  deemed  equal  to  another  capital  of  $50,000;  so  that  the 
first  cost  of  themachiue,  inc.  and  its  continual  charges,  may  be  deemed  equal  to  a  cap- 
ital of  $100,000,  exclusive  of  risk,  repairs,  &c. 


271  [Doc.  No.  61. 


continually  drain,  is  a  desirable  source  from  whence  we  should 
like  to  take  water  for  drinking,  cooking,  &c.  without  taking  into 
the  account  its  noxious  qualities,  medically  considered  ;  although  it 
may  be  laid  down  as  a  general  rule,  that  the  health  of  a  city  de- 
pends more  on  its  water,  than  all  the  rest  of  the  eatables  and 
drinkables  together. 

With  respect  to  other  sources  from  small  springs,  ponds,  &c. 
on  the  Island  of  New- York,  some  of  the  same  objections  may  be 
made  to  them  all ;  the  City  must  then  look  to  some  other  place 
for  a  permanent  and  plentiful  supply  of  good  water. 

The  stream  in  the  county  of  West  Chester,  known  by  the  name 
of  Saw-Mill  River,  which  empties  into  the  North  River,  beyond 
the  nineteen  mile  stone  has  been  mentioned  by  some  as  excellent 
water,  and  capable  of  affording  all  that  is  wanted  I  have  no  ob- 
jections to  make  to  the  truth  of  this  assertion,  but  the  expense  of 
bringing  this  water  nineteen  miles  over  so  rough  a  country,  would 
be  greater  than  could  be  probably  raised  for  this  purpose,  even 
admitting  the  necessary  supply  could  not  be  had  otherwise ;  but 
fortunately  New-York  is  not  in  this  dilemma,  for  there  is  another 
source  equally  copious,  and  full  as  pure,  that  may  with  great  fa- 
cility be  obtained  for  a  quarter  part  of  the  expense,  to  wit  : 

The  River  Bronx, 

Whose  principal  source  is  from  a  small  lake,  about  four  miles  to 
the  northward  of  the  White  Plains.  This  lake  is  nearly  three 
miles  in  length,  and  half  a  mile  wide.  After  meandering  twenty 
miles  through  a  rocky  part  of  the  county  of  West  Chester,  it  falls 
into  the  East  River,  just  above  Hunt's  Point.  The  nearest  point 
of  its  approach  to  the  city  of  New- York  is  at  present  about  twelve 
miles  from  the  City-Hall. 

This  water  is  remarkably  pure  and  pellucid,  and  from  a  chy- 
mical  analysis  which  has  been  made  of  it,  it  may  be  relied  on  as 
possessing  no  noxious  qualities.  The  inhabitants  who  live  near 
its  banks,  are  in  the  constant  habit  of  using  it  in  preference  to 
other  water  during  cold  weather,  and  experience  no  bad  effects 
from  it  It  may  not  be  amiss  to  mention  a  few  tests  that  are  the 
only  ones  necessary  to  ascertain  what  is  good  water, — the  first  is 
to  boil  leguminous  vegetables  in  it ;  the  second  to  mix  it  with 
soap ;  for  water  that  contains  any  of  the  faults  with  an  earthly 
base,  such  as  nitrate  of  lime,  and  magnesia,  muriate  of  lime  and 
magnesia,  sulphat  of  lime,  or  carbonate  of  lime  and  magnesia,  will 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


272 


not  do  well  for  either  of  the  above  purposes,  for  having  great  affi- 
nity to  the  musilage  of  plants,  it  extracts  it  and  thereby  renders 
them  hard  nnd  disagreeable  to  the  taste.  Soap  is  likewise  an  ex- 
cellent test,  which  is  known  to  be  a  chvmical  compound  of  alkali 
and  oil,  or  fat.  All  salts  with  an  earthly  base,  decompound  soap 
by  a  double  exchange  ;  their  earth  unites  itself  with  the  oil  or  fat, 
whilst  their  acid  combines  with  the  alkali  of  the  soap,  and  by  the 
combination  of  the  oil  and  earth  is  formed  a  soap,  which  is  insolu- 
ble in  water,  and  makes  those  clots  or  curdles  which  we  perceive 
in  mixing  soap  with  what  is  generally  called  hard  or  crude  water, 
V»  atei  ihen  that  is  clear  and  from  a  running  source,  that  boils 
le^cminous  vegetables  tender,  in  which  soap  readily  dissolves,  and 
has  no  bad  flavour,  may  be  pronounced  good  water  ;  to  all  these 
tesis,  lhe  water  of  the  Bronx  lias  been  submitted,  and  from  whence 
we  cannot  but  pronounce  it  excellent.  I  shall  now  endeavour  to 
point  out  an  easy  method  of  carrying  it  to  New  York  :  it  has  al- 
ready been  mentioned,  that  its  nearest  approach  to  the  City-Hall, 
is  about  twelve  miles  distance  ;  but  at  about  fourteen  miles  dis- 
tance, which  is  half  a  mile  below  Williams's  Bridge,  is  a  piece  of 
low  meadow  ground,  in  which  arise  two  springs,  one  of  which  runs 
easterly,  and  empties  itself  into  the  Bronx,  at  not  more  than  four 
hundred  yards  from  its  origin  ;  the  other  spring  runs  southerly, 
and  empties  into  Harlem  River,  after  traversing  a  distance  of 
about  six  miles.  The  place  where  those  springs  originate,  is  not. 
more  than  five  feet  above  the  level  of  the  Bronx,  and  sometimes 
part  of  the  river  when  raised  by  a  considerable  freshet,  has  run 
over  part  of  this  meadow,  and  emptied  itself  into  Harlem  River. 
From  those  reasons,  then,  it  is  obvious  that  by  building  a  dam 
five  feet  in  height  across  the  Bronx,  below  where  the  first  men- 
tioned spring  empties  itself  into  it,  and  by  digging  a  canal  four 
hundred  yards  in  length  through  the  meadow,  the  whole  of  the 
Bionx  if  necessary,  might  be  diverted  from  its  old  route,  and 
thrown  into  Harlem  River,  at  about  eight  miles  distant  from  the 
City-Hall.  The  place  where  the  Bronx  may  be  thus  diverted,  is 
about  fifty  feet  above  high  water  mark.  - 

V»  hen  I  fust  interested  myself  on  this  subject,  I  was  in  hopes  a 
place  sufficiently  high  might  have  been  found,  from  whence  the 
water  of  the  Bronx  could  have  been  conducted  to  New- York,  in 
pipes  of  conduit,  without  any  previous  machinery  ;  but  I  am  now 
satisfied,  no  such  place  exists ;  for  although  water  in  an  open 


273 


[Doc.  No.  61. 


aqueduct,  will  run  with  tolerable  fluency,  having  only  six  inches 
fall  in  a  mile,  yet  in  a  pipe  of  conduit,  it  requires  a  five  feet  fall 
to  produce  the  same  effect,  and  even  this  fall  is  insufficient,  where 
the  pipe  of  conduit  is  of  considerable  length  and  of  small  diame- 
ter ;  for  the  friction  that  is  occasioned  by  the  sides  of  the  pipe  of 
conduit  is  to  a  quadruple  ratio  with  its  length  Now  as  the  ground 
in  the  City  of  New-York,  to  w  hich  water  ought  to  be  conveyed  to 
a  principal  reservoir,  is  about  forty  feet  above  high  water,  which 
is  ten  feet  only  below  the  Jevel  of  the  river  from  where  the  Bronx 
may  be  diverted,  I  consider  it,  as  a  fall,  perfectly  inadequate  to 
any  design  of  conveying  the  water  in  a  pipe  of  conduit  only.  It 
becomes  necessary  then,  that  the  water  of  the  Bronx  must  first  be 
elevated,  by  means  of  some  machinery,  which  I  shall  now  endea- 
vour to  point  out. 

A  simple  mode  of  bringing  the  Bronx  to  within  eight  miles  of 
the  City  Hall,  as  we  have  seen,  is  within  our  reach ;  let  us  sup- 
pose it  now  at  Morrisania,  and  emptying  itself  h  o  Harlem  Ri- 
ver, out  of  the  little  creek  that  divides  the  land  of  f'olone!  Lewis 
Morris  from  that  of  Mr.  Gouverneur  .Morris;  it  will  then  be  about 
forty  feet  below  the  height  of  the  Park  in  front  of  the  goal,  &c. 
It  will  therefore  become  necessary  to  elevate  it,  at  least,  as  high 
as  this  spot ;  probably,  it  might  be  still  better  to  give  it  a  greater 
elevation,  for  instance,  as  high  as  the  Corporation  land  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  the  Dove,  about  five  miles  from  town,  which  is  about 
forty  feet  above  the  Park,  or  eighty  feet  from  high  water  mark. 

The  first  thing  to  be  determined,  is  the  quantity  of  water  that 
would  be  deemed  sufficient  for  all  the  purposes  already  mentioned. 
The  supply  ought  to  be  a  liberal  one;  it  appears  to  me,  it  ought 
to  be,  at  least,  300,000  gallons  per  twenty-four  hours  ;  one  third 
of  which  will  be  competent  for  all  potable  and  culinary  purposes, 
washing,  &c. ;  there  will  then  remain  200,000  gallons  to  be  daily 
made  use  of  for  washing  streets,  &c  The  principal  reservoir 
should  contain  at  least  the  whole  of  this  quantity,  as  a  resource  in 
case  of  fire,  which,  with  its  permanent  supply,  is  more  than  ten 
of  the  largest  fire  engines  could  exhaust  in  six  hours.  Admitting 
then,  that  300,000  gallons  are  sufficient  for  the  daily  allowance, 
the  next  thing  to  be  considered,  is  the  power  to  be  applied  to 
force  this  quantity  of  water,  a  perpendicular  height  of  eighty 
feet ;  for  it  is  to  be  observed,  that  its  perpendicular  height  is  only 

be  regarded  in  the  calculation,  and  not  its  horizontal  distance. 


Doc.  No  6L  274 


except  that  distance  be  a  great  one  ;  for  this  reason  it  is  probably 
better  to  force  water  a  perpendicular  height  of  eighty  feet,  at  the 
horizontal  distance  of  three  miles,  than  to  force  it  forty  feet  high  at 
the  distance  of  eight  miles.  1  do  not  say  that  in  all  cases,  this  is 
correctly  true.  If  water  running  in  pipes  of  conduit,  had  no  other 
obstacle  to  surmount,  than  those  occasioned  by  the  friction  of  the 
sides  of  the  tubes,  rules  sufficiently  correct  for  practice  might  be 
deduced,  but  it  is  almost  always  the  case,  that  in  pipes  of  conduit 
of  considerable  length,  part  of  the  course  is  zigzag,  and  part  of  it 
over  ascending  and  descending  ground,  from  both  of  which 
causes  the  velocity  of  water  is  greatly  retarded.  It  is,  therefore, 
extremely  difficult  to  apply  with  correctness  any  theory  to  prac- 
tice It  is  always  most  prudent  therefore,  to  make  ample  allow- 
ances in  all  our  calculations. 

The  power  I  propose  to  apply  for  this  purpose,  is  the  Bronx 
itself  If  the  whole  of  the  river  be  diverted  in  the  way  I  have 
mentioned,  in  the  driest  seasons,  it  may  be  calculated  that  the 
water  issuing  from  it,  is  equal  to  1,200  cubic  feet  per  minute,  which 
at  62 *  lbs  the  weight  of  a  cubic  foot  of  water,  is  equal  to  135,000 
hogsheads  of  100  gallons  each,  per  24  hours.  Near  where  this 
water  would  enter  Harlem  River,  is  an  excellent  situation  for  a 
mill  seat ;  suppose  a  dam  then  to  be  erected  of  six  feet  in  height, 
at  this  place,  it  would  furnish  a  power  to  be  calculated  as  follows  : 

From  acknowledged  and  experimented  principles  of  hydrosta- 
ticks,  the  velocity  of  water  is  as  the  square  root  of  its  perpendicular 
height;  that  is,  the  velocity  of  water  spouting  under  a  four  feet 
head  is  16  feet  per  second  nearly,  (I  purposely  avoid  fractions,) 
consequently  the  velocity  of  spouting  water  from  under  a  six  feet 
head  will  be  nearly  twenty  feet  per  second,  and  if  the  aperture  of  a 
penstock  be  twelve  inches  square,  the  quantity  of  water  discharged 
per  second  will  be  twenty  cubic  feet,  which  is  the  quantity  that 
the  Bronx  will  continually  furnish  in  the  driest  seasons  ;  this,  then, 
creates  a  power  of  1,250  pounds  per  second,  which  is  the  weight 
of  twenty  cubical  feet  of  water.  The  velocity  of  a  water  wheel, 
when  loaded  with  its  maximum,  is  one  third  of  the  velocity  of  the 
water  spouting  on  in.  Admitting  then  we  have  a  water  wheel 
of  twenty  feet  diameter,  which  will  be  sixtv  feet  circumference,  it 
will  nmke  seven  revolutions  in  a  minute  under  a  head  of  six  feet 
water  with  a  penstock  of  three  inches  high  and  thirty-six  inches 
long,  which  must  be  the  length  of  the  float  boards  of  the  water 


275  [Doc.  No.  61. 


wheel.    On  the  water  wheel  shaft  must  be  a  cog  wheel  to  drive 
one   or   more   wallowers,  to  move  the  pistons  of  the  forcing 
pumps  ;  the  cog  wheel  should  be  six  feet  diameter,  having 
fifty  four  cogs  in  it;  the  wallower  one  foot  diameter,  with  nine 
rounds  in  it  ;  the  wallower  then  makes  six  revolutions  to  every 
revolution  of  the  water  wheel,  consequently  the  pistons  of  the 
pumps  will  make  forty-two  strokes  in  a  minute.    Admitting  the 
pipes  of  conduit  leading  from  the  pumps  to  the  reservoir  at  the 
Dove,  to  be  six  inches  diameter,  and  fifty  feet  perpendicular 
height,  when  full  of  water,  its  weight  will  be  equal  to  fifteen  square 
feet  or  937lbs.  :  this  weight  is  to  be  overcome  at  each  stroke  of 
the  piston  by  the  weight  of  water,  as  I  have  already  mentioned, 
that  is  perpetually  operating  on  the  water  wheel,  which  is  equal 
to  1,250  pounds.    The  arms  of  the  water  wheel  act  as  levers, 
whose  impulse  is  ascertained  by  multiplying  their  length  by  the 
weight  of  water  pressing  on  them  ;  1,250  pounds  then  multiplied 
by  ten,  the  length  of  the  arm  from  the  centre  of  the  shaft  is  equal 
to  12,500  pounds,  which  must  be  divided  by  the  length  of  the 
arm  of  the  cog  wheel,  which  being  three  feet,  leaves  4,166  pounds 
as  the  actual  power  of  the  water  wheel,  five-ninths  of  which  is  lost 
in  overcoming  friction  &c. ;  of  course  four-ninths  can  be  calcula- 
ted on,  only,  to  produce  its  greatest  product  or  maximum  effect, 
which  leaves  1851  pounds  as  the  efficient  power  of  the  water 
wheel,  which  is  equal  to  the  power  requisite  to  work  four  forcing 
pumps,  two  of  which  will  be  in  state  of  inaction  whilst  the  other 
two  are  forcing.    As  the  water  wheel  makes  seven  revolutions  in 
a  minute  and  the  wallower  six  times  as  many,  each  pump  makes 
forty-two  strokes  in  a  minute,  the  four  pumps  will  then  make  to- 
gether, 1 68  in  a  minute.    If  the  crank  of  the  wallower  be  nine 
inches  deep  it  will  give  eighteen  play  to  the  piston,  and  if  the  pis- 
ton works  in  a  six  inch  bore,  it  will  deliver,  at  each  stroke,  436 
cubical  inches  of  water,  equal  to  fifteen  pounds,  which  for  the  four 
pumps  is  equal  to  315  gallons  per  minute,  or  463,600  gallons 
per  day.    As  the  pistons  and  valves  of  them  are  never  perfectly 
tight,  it  is  usual  to  allow  one-fifth  wastage  for  this  purpose,  which 
leaves  362,880  gallons  to  be  delivered  daily  into  the  reservoir  at 
the  Dove. 

I  have  thus  shown,  that  the  Bronx  itself  may  be  made  use  of  as 
the  only  agent  requisite  to  deliver  at  a  reservoir,  near  the  Dove, 
all  the  water  necessary  for  the  daily  consumption  of  New-York. 


Doe.  No.  61.] 


276 


From  the  reservoir  at  the  Dove,  a  pipe  of  conduit  of  six  inches 
diameter  will  be  requisite  to  deliver  the  water  to  a  principal  reser- 
voir in  or  near  the  City. 

I  shall  next  endeavour  to  calculate  the  expense.  Below  the 
place  meotioned  as  a  proper  situation  for  diverting  the  Bronx,  are 
four  mills,  one  employed  as  a  snuff  mill,  the  next  intended  as  a 
mill  for  spinning  of  cotton,  &c  ;  the  next  a  grin  mill,  the  last  used 
for  a  bleach  mill  and  calico  printing.  For  six  months  in  iht*  yeaE, 
those  mills  will  not  be  much  injured  by  diverting  part  o  the 
stream  ;  for  three  months  they  may  probably  be  used  one  half  of 
their  time  ;  but  for  three  months^they  may  be  reckoned  as  to- 
tally idle  ;  that  is  July,  August  and  September. 

The  damages  to  those  mills,  which  must  be  paid  for, 

may  be  stated  at       .  $20,000 

To  building  a  dam  across  the  Bronx,  purchasing  the 
land  adjoining,  and  paying  damages  for  overflow- 
ing lands  above  the  dam,          .       .       .       .  2,000 
To  digging  a  canal  through  a  meadow  four  hundred 
yards  in  length  at  the  Bronx,  and  widening  the  pre- 
sent rivulet,  with  damages  done  to  the  lands  from 
the  Bronx  to  Harlem  River,       ....  5,000 
To  building  a  dam  across  the  rivulet  at  Morrisania ; 
purchasing  lands  for  the  works  to  stand  on,  and  for 
overflowing  land  above  the  dam,        .       .       .  4,000 
To  water-wheel,  six  pumps,*  mill-house,  and  Over- 
seer's house,  6,000 

To  44,000  feet  of  pipes,  of  six  inches  diameter,  and 
laying  the  same  three  feet  under  ground,  at  four 

shillings  per  foot,   22,000 

To  extra  expenses  in  crossing  under  Harlem  Bridge, 

and  securing  pipe  from  frost,  ...         2  000 

To  damages  to  land  in  laying  the  pipes,  .  .  1,000 
To  two  covered  reservoirs,  each  to  contain  300,000 

gallons  of  water,  10,000 

To  superintending,  and  a  number  of  small  charges  not 
enumerated,  such  as  air  pipes,  regards,  crossing 
gullies,  &c   28,000 

$100,000 


*  1  have  calculated  for  two  additional  pumps,  iu  case  of  occasional  repairs. 


277  [Doc.  No.  61. 

The  streets  in  the  City  through  which  the  pipes  will 
be  carried,  will  probably  be  about  twenty  miles  in 
length  ;  the  expense  for  piping  the  same  with  fire 
pki£;<.  air  pipes,  one  or  two  public  fountains,  &c. 

may  be  estimated  $100,000 

I  have  thus  estimated  the  whole  expense  to  be  $200,000.  In 
making  my  calculations,  I  believe  this  sum  will  be  the  outside 
cost ;  and  considering  the  magnitude  of  the  object,  and  the  wealth 
of  the  City  of  .New-York,  the  sum  is  very  trifling. 

The  Corporation  in  considering  this  subject,  will  no  doubt  take 
in  vie  w  the  rapid  growth  of  the  City,  which  must  continue  to  in- 
crease in  a  certain  ratio  with  that  of  the  State  and  the  neighbour- 
ing States,  where  there  is  no  competitor  city,  for  their  commercial 
concerns,  Admitting  that  $300,000  gallons  of  water  are  at  pre- 
sent only  sufficient  for  the  present  necessities  of  the  City,  in  a 
few  years  this  quantity  will  be  too  small.  The  zeal  of  the  Cor- 
poration, as  fathers  of  the  City,  will  induce  them  to  regard  the 
future,  as  well  as  the  present  welfare  of  the  City.  The  river 
Bronx  contains  more  than  forty  times  the  quantity  of  water  tnat 
is  now  wanted  ;  and  although  the  river  is  capable  of  forcing  up 
more  than  is  at  present  required,  yet  in  a  short  time  it  will  not  be 
able  to  do  so ;  it  may  then  be  not  amiss  to  inquire  what  other 
mode  may  be  adopted  for  this  purpose.  The  river  Bronx  may  at 
an\  time,  for  a  small  additional  expense,  be  diverted  from  the 
place  which  I  have  suggested  as  the  best  at  present  to  carry  it  to, 
to  the  excellent  bridge  which  has  lately  been  built  over  Harlem 
River,  by  John  B.  Coles,  Esq.  Under  this  bridge  Mr.  Coles  is 
authorised  by  act  of  the  Legislature,  to  erect  a  mill-dam  across 
Harlem  River,  which,  as  a  tide-mill  will  be  one  of  the  best  in  the 
world  ;  it  will  be  capable  of  carrying  from  sixty  to  eighty  ton  of 
stones ;  a  part  or  the  whole  of  this  power  may,  if  necessary,  be 
employed  in  forcing  the  Bronx  to  New- York,  instead  of  grinding 
grain  This  consideration  will,  no  doubt,  have  some  weight  with 
the  Corporation. 

I  am  under  no  apprehension  that  the  Corporation  will  ever  se- 
riously think  of  forcing  the  inhabitants  to  drink  the  disgusting 
water  of  the  Collect ;  but  it  is  of  considerable  importance,  that  the 
Corporation  should  speedily  determine  with  respect  to  the  Bronx  ; 
at  present,  the  value  of  the  mills  that  will  be  affected  by  diverting 
the  water  is  not  great,  but  the  excellence  of  the  water,  the  heatthv- 


Doc.  No.  61.]  -27H 


r.ess  of  the  country,  the  goodness  of  the  roads  from  New- York, 
and  its  vicinity  to  that  city,  point  it  out  as  a  most  eligible  situa- 
tion for  different  manufactories,  when  expensive  establishments  of 
this  kind  take  place.  It  will  be  very  difficult  for  the  city  to  com- 
mand a  river,  which  will,  one  day  or  other,  be  found  to  be  of  infi- 
nite importance  to  its  interest.  If  the  Corporation  should  not  at 
present,  determine  to  have  its  water  brought  to  the  city,  no  time 
should  be  lost  in  purchasing  the  right  of  doing  it  at  some  future 
time  ;  it  may  never  hereafter  be  in  their  power  to  do  it,  at  least 
without  a  very  great  expense.  As  the  funds  of  the  Corporation 
are  probably  not  adequate  to  an  undertaking  of  this  kind,  I  shall 
beg  leave  to  submit  to  their  consideration,  a  plan  of  an  association 
for  the  purpose.  The  sum  requisite,  as  already  stated,  is  §200.000. 
As  a  great  majority  of  the  inhabitants  have  an  interest  in  such  an 
undertaking,  and  must  feel  a  wish  to  promote  it.  I  shall  propose 
that  the  stock  should  be  divided  into  two  thousand  shares  of  one 
hundred  dollars  each ;  that  three  gentlemen  should  be  appointed 
to  receive  the  subscriptions,  but  in  such  a  way,  that  no  man  should 
be  entitled  to  more  than  one  share,  at  least,  not  till  after  a  given 
time,  and  that  the  whole  number  of  shares  should  not  be  sub- 
scribed for  by  single  shares.  There  can  be  no  difficulty  in  pro- 
curing, from  the  Legislature,  an  Act  of  Incorporation  for  such  an 
Association,  at  the  request  of  the  Corporation.  The  outlines  of 
the  plan  may  be  as  follows  : — 

The  Corporation  of  the  City  of  New  York,  engage  with  A.  B. 
and  C.  and  their  associates,  to  procure  an  Act  of  the  Legislature, 
at  their  next  Session,  to  incorporate  as  a  body  politic,  the  said  A. 
B.  and  C.  and  their  associates,  by  the  name  of  the  Aqueduct 
Company  of  the  City  of  New  York,  with  the  authorities  and 
powers  incident  to  such  an  establishment,  on  the  conditions  follow- 
ing :— The  said  Company  engage  to  supply  the  City  of  New- 
York  daily,  at  the  rate  of  300,000  gallons  of  water,  from  the  river 
Bronx,  to  be  delivered  into  such  reservoir  or  reservoirs  as  shall 
be  furnished,  at  least  the  ground  thereof,  by  the  said  Corporation  ; 
that  the  said  water  shall  be  conveyed  through  the  principal  streets 
of  the  City,  in  pipes  of  conduit,  in  which  pipes,  at  convenient  dis- 
tances, shall  be  constructed  fire-plugs,  through  which  the  whole 
of  said  300,000  gallons  may  at  any  time,  in  case  of  fire,  be  dis- 
charged into  any  particular  street,  for  which  purpose  a  watchman 
shall  constantly  attend  at  the  priucipal  reservoir  ;  the  residue  of 


279  [Doc.  No.  61. 


water  'not  otherwise  wanted,  shall  be  daily  made  use  of,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Corporation,  for  washing  such  streets  as  they  may 
direct. 

That  every  househoMer,  in  all  the  streets  in  the  said  city, 
through  which  the  said  pipes  of  conduit  shall  be  laid,  shall  be  en- 
titled to  receive  daily  from  (he  same,  a  supply  of  at  least  thirty 
gallons  of  water  through  pipes,  to  be  provided  by  himself  or 
themselves  for  that  purpose,  to  communicate  with  the  pipes  of 
conduit. 

That  the  said  company  shall,  at  their  expense,  cause  to  be  con- 
structed on  the  Battery  or  Bowling  Green,  as  the  Corporation  shall 
direct,  an  ornamental  fountain  and  Jet  d'  Eau9  from  whence  a 
pipe  of  conduit  shall  be  carried  to  some  convenient  wharf,  from 
whence  the  shipping  in  the  harbour  may  be  supplied  with  such 
quantities  of  water  as  their  owners  may  require. 

As  a  compensation  for  all  which,  the  said  company  shall  be  au- 
thorized to  receive  annually  from  every  house  in  the  said  City, 
which  is,  or  shall  be  built  on  any  street,  through  which  the  said 
pipes  of  conduit  shall  pass,  a  sum  not  exceeding  an  average  of 
two  dollars. 

That  the  said  Company  shall  also  receive  from  every  house 
from  which  a  pipe  shall  communicate  with  the  pipes  of  con- 
duit, a  sum  not  exceeding  an  average  of  eight  dollars  per  an- 
num, both  of  w  hich  sums  shall  be  assessed,  levied,  and  paid  under 
the  direction  of  the  Corporation. 

That  the  vessels  in  the  harbour  shall  not  pay  a  greater  sum 
than  per  hogshead,  for  every  hogshead  they  may  be  sup- 

plied with. 

Provided  always,  that  the  annual  net-revenue  of  the  said  com- 
pany, shall  not  in  any  year,  exceed  twenty  per  cent,  of  the  monies 
that  shall  have  actually  been  expended  in  the  construction,  repairs, 
and  maintenance  of  the  said  works  ;  the  surplui,  if  any,  shall 
be  appropriated  for  such  purposes  as  the  Corporation  shall  direct. 

The  present  revenue  of  such  a  company  may  be  estimated  as 
follows : — 

To  an  annual  tax  of  two  doiiars  from  6000  houses,  -  $12,000 
To  annual  payments  of  eight  dollars  from  3000  houses,  24,000 

$36,000 

Deduct  for  expenses  of  management,  repairs,  &c.    -  10,000 


12 


.$26,000 


Doc.  No.  61.]  280 


Which  is  equal  to  an  interest  of  thirteen  per  cent,  on  the  original 
stock. 

In  the  above  calculation,  I  have  estimated,  that  as  every  house 
is  equally  interested  in  whatever  means  can  be  made  use  of  as  a 
preservation  from  fire  and  pestilence,  each  ought  to  contribute 
towards  it  equally  in  proportion  to  its  relative  value  ;  for  such 
purposes  an  average  of  two  dollars  per  annum,  from  each,  must 
surely  be  reckoned  a  trifling  consideration. 

As  many  parts  of  the  City  are  contiguous  to  tolerable  good  wa- 
ter from  pumps,  I  have  estimated  one  half  the  houses  in  the  City 
only,  to  be  supplied  from  the  aqueduct ;  although  as  it  supersedes 
the  necessity  of  having  wells  and  rain  water  cisterns  in  the  yards, 
an  average  of  eight  dollars  per  annum,  is  probably  less  than  the 
interest  of  the  first  cost  of  wells  and  cisterns,  and  their  constant 
repairs,  even  though  the  teaavater,  as  it  is  called,  should  cost  no- 
thing. 

If  any  ideas  in  the  preceding  Memoir,  shall  add  to  the  useful 
information  the  Corporation  is  already  possessed  of,  I  shall  be 
happy  to  have  been  their  subordinate  agent  in  contributing  to  the 
health  of  the  City,  not  by  curing  its  diseases,  but  what  is  consider- 
ably more  meritorious,  by  preventing  them. 

Published  by  order  of  the  Common  Council, 

ROBERT  BENSON,  Clerk. 


* 


City  op  > 
New  York,  /  ss* 

At  a  Common  Council,  held  on  Saturday  the  1 6th  day  of  Marc7ty 
1799,  the  following  REPORT  of  \V  illiam  Weston,  Esq.  (on 
the  practicability  of  introducing-  the  WATER  of  the  River 
Bronx  into  this  City,)  made  at  the  request  of  this  Board,  was 
read  and  ordered  to  be  printed,  viz. 

SIR, 

In  compliance  with  the  request  contained  in  your  let- 
ter of  the  18th  of  December  last,  I  have  taken  the  earliest  oppor- 
tunity, which  my  engagements  and  the  state  of  the  weather  would 
permit,  to  ascertain  the  practicability  of  introducing  the  water  of 
the  Bronx  into  the  City  of  New- York.  The  result  of  which  in- 
vestigation I  have  now  the  honor  of  transmitting  to  you,  request- 
ing that  you  will  lay  the  same  before  the  Common  Council,  who, 
as  the  immediate  guardians  of  the  City,  must  feel  peculiarly 
anxious  to  possess  such  information  on  the  subject,  as  may  enable 
them  to  determine  upon  the  propriety  of  the  measures  necessary 
to  be  taken  to  accomplish  that  important  object. 

I  am  sensible  that  Estimates  of  the  expense  attendant  on  the 
execution,  would  have  been  a  desirable  piece  of  information  ; 
but  a  wish  to  render  them  as  accurate  as  the  uncertainty  of  the 
business  will  admit,  induces  me  to  request  a  further  indulgence  of 
time,  to  procure  information  on  several  material  points,  essential 
to  be  known,  previous  to  the  completion  of  the  necessary  calcula- 
tions, but  with  which  I  am  at  present  unacquainted. 

Though  the  amount  of  the  expense,  ought,  and  doubtless  w\U} 
have  a  proper  degree  of  influence  on  the  final  decision  ;  yet,  per- 
haps it  is  not  a  disadvantage  in  the  first  instance,  that  the  question 
should  be  determined  on  its  abstract  merits  alone. 

In  an  object  of  this  nature,  the  first  point  to  be  fixed,  is  the 
quantity  of  water  necessary  to  be  delivered  in  a  given  time  :  was 
nothing  more  required  than  a  sufficiency  for  culinary  and  other 
domestic  uses,  the  matter  might  easily  be  ascertained  But  as  the 
principal  object  of  this  undertaking,  is  the  introduction  of  a  copi- 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


282 


ous  and  constant  supply,  for  cleansing  and  cooling  the  streets,  it 
becomes  a  question  of  importance  to  determine,  as  near  as  may 
be,  the  annual  amount  of  the  required  demand.  Several  spe- 
cific quantities  have  been  mentioned  ;  but  in  my  opinion,  they 
are  all  inadequate  to  the  contemplated  purpose.  In  this,  as  in  all 
other  undertakings,  I  conceive  it  to  be  an  object  of  the  first  con- 
sequence, to  have  the,  effect  dependent  on  the  will,  and  where, 
from  the  nature  of  the  thing,  no  certain  conclusions  can  be  ob- 
tained, it  is  safest  to  err  on  the  safe  side. 

Whatever  doubts  may  be  entertained  of  this  deduction,  as  a 
general  principle,  I  believe  there  can  be  none  respecting  the  pro- 
priety of  it  in  the  present  instance  ;  for  however  great  the  amount 
of  the  surplus  water  may  be,  there  are  a  variety  of  useful  and 
productive  purposes,  to  which  it  may  be  advantageouslv  applied. 
Proceeding  on  this  ground,  1*  have  endeavoured  to  calculate  as 
near  as  the  want  of  sufficient  data  would  enable  me,  the  mini- 
mum quantity  necessary  to  be  introduced  in  twenty-four  hours. 
Though  conclusions  deduced  from  hydraulic  principles  of  the  ex- 
pense of  water  issuing  from  pipes  of  given  diameters,  placed  on 
the  summits  of  the  several  streets,  would  have  been  much  prefer- 
able to  vague  guesses ;  yet  the  infinite  variety  of  cases,  arising 
from  different  degrees  of  depression  below,  and  distance  from  the 
principal  Reservoir,  would  have  rendered  the  operation  a  very  la- 
borious one  ;  and  from  a  variety  of  causes,  the  result  very  uncer- 
tain. Indeed,  every  mode  with  which  I  am  acquainted,  may  be 
objected  to  on  the  latter  principle  ;  but  though  it  is  perhaps  im- 
possible to  ascertain  the  exact  truth,  we  must  endeavour  to  ap- 
proximate as  near,  thereto,  as  possible.  Conceiving  it  to  be 
the  intentions  of  the  gentlemen,  who  have  recommended  the 
measure  of  washing  the  streets,  as  essential  to  the  health  of  the 
citizens,  to  have  a  regular  and  plentiful  current  of  water  running 
at  least  twelve  hours  every  day  through  all  the  streets,  by  means 
of  pipes  placed  at  the  respective  summits,  producing  an  effect 
similar  to  what  we  may  observe  to  be  done,  by  a  moderate  shower 
of  rain  of  the  same  duration.  Calculating,  therefore,  the  area  of 
the  City,  the  quantity  of  water  usually  descending  in  the  time 
above  mentioned,  and  making  due  allowance  for  such  parts  of  the 
general  surface,  as  are  pervious  to  water,  we  shall  obtain  a  result, 
that  perhaps  on  the  whole,  will  be  as  near  the  truth  as  can  be 
done  by  any  other  mode,  and  sufficient  to  answer  every  purpose 


2^3  [Doc.  No.  61. 


required.  I  find  that  the  area  of  the  City,  bounded  by  the  East 
and  North  Rivers,  and  the  intersection  of  them  by  Grand-street, 
is  upwards  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty  acres  ;  and  making  an  al- 
lowance of  three  hundred  and  fifty  for  public  squares,  gardens, 
and  other  unpaved  sui  faces,  we*  have  a  remainder  of  four  hundred 
acres  ;  which  being  impenetrable  to  the  rain,  all  that  falls  on  that 
surface,  must  be  discharged  by  means  of  the  channels  of  the  dif- 
ferent streets,  into  the  adjacent  rivers.  I  have  made  various  in- 
quiries, but  have  not  as  yet  received  any  correct  information  of 
the  quantity  of  water  produced  by  a  moderate  shower  of  twelve 
hours  continuance.  I  am,  therefore,  under  the  necessity  of  as- 
suming, as  a  fact,  what  may  hereafter  be  proved  to  be  erroneous ; 
though  I  have  reason  to  believe,  that  my  calculations  will  not  be 
found  to  be  over-rated.  Fixing,  therefore,  the  depth,  as  shown 
by  the  rain-gauge,  at  one  fourth  of  an  inch,  we  shall  find  the  total 
amount  to  be  363,000  cubic  feet,  or  2,22 1 ,5fi0  ale  gallons  ;  and 
adding  to  this,  778,440  gallons,  as  an  adequate  supply  for  domes- 
tic consumption,  we  shall  have  3,000,000  of  gallons  to  be  intro- 
duced into  the  Reservoir  every  twenty-four  hours. 

I  beg  leave  to  observe,  that  an  increase  or  diminution  of  the 
above  quantity  may  be  effected  by  one  of  the  plans  submitted  to 
your  consideration,  without  materially  altering  the  design  or  en- 
hancing the  estimates,  while  by  the  other,  the  expense  will  be 
nearly  proportioned  to  the  quantity  required.  I  offer  the  preced- 
ing calculation,  merely  as  an  essay  to  determine  a  point,  which  as 
yet,  has  remained  undiscussed,  though  of  such  importance,  that  I 
deem  it  the  basis  of  the  whole  work.  I  shall  readily  yield  to  any 
valid  reasons  that  may  be  produced  in  support  of  variations  from 
the  above  conclusions. 

The  quantity  requisite  being  determined,  the  next  point  to  be 
ascertained,  is  from  what  sources  it  can  be  most  conveniently  de- 
rived. I  am  acquainted  with  but  two  modes  that  deserve  any 
consideration.  The  first  is  the  introduction  of  a  part  or  the  whole 
of  the  waters  of  the  Bronx.  The  second  is  a  supply  obtained  from 
the  springs  of  the  Collect.  As  this  question  has  much  agitated 
the  public  mind,  and  each  plan  in  its  turn,  been  extolled  or  de- 
cried by  their  respective  advocates  and  opponents,  it  has  pro- 
duced, Svhat  is  frequently  the  effect  of  a  collision  of  sentiments) 
a  more  obstinate  attachment  to  pre-conceived  opinions.  I  do  not 
therefore  expect,  that  any  arguments  which  I  shall  produce,  will 


Doc.  No.  01.] 


284 


reconcile  the  jarring  interests.  Yet  I  trust  that  the  statement  I 
shall  offer,  (and  it  is  the  result  of  some  experience  and  reflec- 
tion,) will  enable  those  whose  province  it  is  to  judge  of  the  merits 
and  disadvantages  of  ihe  different  plans,  to  select  that,  which  on 
the  whole  shall  be  most  conducive^ to  the  public  welfare. 

In  order  to  form  a  correct  opinion  on  the  subject,  it  is  necessary 
to  take  into  consideration,  the  efficiency  of  supply  ;  the  quality  of 
water,  as  it  respects  the  different  uses  to  which  it  is  to  be  applied  ; 
and  the  expense  of  execution. 

On  the  first  of  these  heads,  I  am  aware  that  it  has  generally 
been  believed,  and  pretty  confidently  maintained,  that  at  those 
seasons  when  the  demand  will  be  greatest  and  most  essential,  that 
the  waters  of  the  Bronx  are  wholly  inadequate.  These  assertions 
have  been  made  with  a  degree  of  positiveness,  that  would  induce 
one  to  believe,  they  were  founded  on  the  most  careful  and  accu- 
rate experiments,  which  I  have  every  reason  to  imagine,  have  as 
yet  never  been  made  ;  instead  of  which,  I  have  no  doubt,  they 
are  the  random  guesses  of  superficial  observation.  The  question 
is  of  such  importance,  that  we  ought  to  be  very  careful,  that  we 
proceed  upon  the  most  certain  grounds.  In  a  matter  of  this  con- 
sequence, I  may  be  allowed  to  be  a  little  diffuse. 

It  is  evident  that  at  the  period,  when  the  greatest  supply  of 
water  is  wanted,  there  will,  from  natural  causes,  be  the  ieast  quan- 
tity furnished.  This  is  a  common  principle,  applicable  to  all 
livers  and  springs ;  the  very  few  examples  to  the  contrary,  are 
mere  exceptions  to  the  general  rule.  This  circumstance,  has 
created  doubts  in  the  minds  of  many  persons  of  the  efficiency  of 
the  Bronx.  Previous  to  my  examination  of  that  stream,  I  had 
regretted  that  proper  experiments  had  not  been  made,  at  the  sea- 
son above  alluded  to,  as  then  the  fact  would  have  been  ascertained 
beyond  all  dispute.  It  is  universally  allowed,  that,  for  the  great- 
est part  of  the  year,  there  is  a  superabundant  quantity  ;  what  the 
diminution  may  be,  is  not  easily  ascertained  ;  we  must  rely  altoge- 
ther upon  the  information  of  those  persons,  whom  a  long  residence 
has  afforded  the  best  opportunities  of  judging  of  its  usual  decrease  ; 
but  as  not  materially  interested  on  the  subject,  we  cannot  expect 
any  considerable  degree  of  accuracy  in  their  observations.  Allow- 
ing for  this  circumstance,  I  have  been  careful  to  take  the  lowest 
average  of  the  results  of  three  distinct  cases,  founded  on  the  best 
data  I  could  procure,  and  applying  to  them  well  known  Hydraulic 


285 


[Doc.  No.  61. 


laws,  I  am  persuaded  that  the  natural  stream  of  the  Bronx  alone,  if 
conveyed  without  waste,  would  be  fully  adequate  to  the  supply 
bef  >re  mentioned,  but  fortunately  a  minute  accuracy  is  not  re- 
quired, as  will  appear  by  the  following  account  of 

The  Mliver  Bronx, 

Whose  principal  source  is  from  a  lake,  about  four  miles  to  the 
northward  of  White  Plains,  known  by  the  name  of  Rye  Pond. 
This  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  upwards  of  a  mile  in  length, 
containing,  as  appears  from  an  old  survey,  upwards  of  500  acres 
of  water  ;  which  flowing  from  the  outlet,  is  received  into  another 
pond  a  short  distance  beluw  ;  whose  area  exceeds  fifty  acres. 
I  com  this  pond  it  descends  with  a  rapid  current,  upwards  of  a  mile, 
to  Mr.  Rouen's  mill  ;  a  few  rods  below  which,  it  unites  with  the 
other  branch  of  the  Bronx.  This  last,  which  has  its  origin  in  a 
swamp  a  few  miles  to  the  northward,  retains  the  name  of  the 
Bronx,  to  its  source  ;  yet  it  is  the  least  considerable  stream,  par- 
ticularly in  the  summer,  when  it  is  reduced  to  a  small  current  : 
while  the  other  branch  is  sufficiently  large,  to  turn  an  overshot 
wheel,  twelve  hours  out  of  twenty-four,  in  the  driest  times.  Rye 
Pond  is  bounded  by  high  and  bold  shores,  which  tending  towards 
each  other  at  the  outlet,  are  admirably  calculated  for  the  forma- 
tion of  an  immense  reservoir.  This  being  filled  during  the  winter 
and  spring,  may  be  retained  until  the  month  of  July,  when  the  na- 
tural supplies  begin  to  diminish,  it  may  then  be  discharged  perio- 
dically, so  as  to  afTord  any  quantity  of  water  that  may  be  requi- 
site for  the  use  of  the  City. 

This  lake  is  supplied  wholly  by  springs,  many  of  which  are  in- 
ternal, and  few  of  the  others  originate  more  than  a  mile  from  the 
head  ;  these  are  so  constant  and  copious,  that  no  doubt  can  arise 
of  their  capacity  to  fill  the  reservoir  to  the  contemplated  height  of 
six  feet,  which  may  easily  be  effected  by  throwing  a  dam  across 
the  outlet  of  the  lower  pond  ;  this  would  form  a  sheet  of  water  of 
more  tham  600  acres  in  extent,  containing  959,713,920  gallons  of 
water  ;  affording  (independent  of  the  natural  stream  of  the  Bronx) 
a  diurnal  supply  of  nearly  eight  millions  of  gallons,  for  120  days  ; 
three  eighths  of  which  quantity  is  surlicient  for  our  purpose  ;  the 
surplus  five  millions  may  be  given  to  the  mills  below  the  point  of 
partition  ;  so  that  instead  of  injuring  (and  consequently  recom- 
pensing them  for  the  dam  mage,)  the  mills  on  the  Bronx  as  has 
been  generally  apprehended,  they  will  derive  essential  benefits 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


286 


from  tlie  measure.  Having,  I  flatter  myself,  removed  the  doubts 
of  the  most  incredulous,  respecting  the  efficiency  of  the  supply  to 
he  derived  from  the  Bronx,  it  remains  to  examine  tl  e  compe- 
tency pi  the  waters  of  the  Collect.  The  general  bias  of  opinion 
seems  to  lean  in  favor  of  this  scheme  ;  and  if  it  can  be  made  sa- 
tisfactorily to  appear,  that  the  required  supply  can  be  obtained 
from  this  source,*!  am  ready  to  allow  that  it  is  a  work,  that  would 
be  soonest  accomplished  and  attended  with  the  least  expense. 
But  we  ought  to  be  extremely  cautious  in  hazarding  an  expe- 
riment,  where  the  cost  would  be  so  great,  and  the  event  so  doubt- 
ful The  question  is  of  infinite  importance,  and,  unfortunately, 
one  that  can  rot  be  determined  by  abstract  reasoning.  The  capa- 
city of  the  Collect,  has  been  attempted  to  be  proved,  by  its  present 
extent ;  bu  that,  in  my  mind,  is  a  most  fallacious  mode  of  reason- 
ing ;  for  however  great  that  may  be,  a  powerful  steam  engine 
would  soon  exhaust  it,  unless  replenished  with  numerous  and  copi- 
ous springs  On  these  alone,  therefore,  it  is  evident  we  must  de- 
pend ;  and  I  know  of  no  other  mode  of  estimating  their  combined 
effect,  than  by  calculating  the  quantity  of  water  issuing  from  the 
outlet  of  the  Collect ;  which  even  at  this  time  is  so  inconsiderable 
as  scarce  to  deserve  attention,  and  if  my  information  is  correct,  it 
ceases  to  flow  altogether  in  the  summer.  I  am  sensible  that  we 
should  not  too  hastily  conclude,  that  the  above  is  the  jtotal  amount 
of  the  supply  that  may  be  derived  from  this  source  ;  I  think  it 
very  probable,  that  from  the  nature  of  the  sui rounding  ground, 
(which  is  a  coarse  and  porous  gravel,)  a  considerable  portion 
thereof,  may  percolate  through,  into  the  adjacent  rivers.  Much, 
and  perhaps  the  greatest  quantity,  is  also  daily  drawn  off  by  the 
Tea-Water  Pump ;  which  from  its  vicinity,  1  have  no  doubt,  is 
supplied  from  the  same  source. 

It  is  true,  that  by  sinking  deeper  into  the  earth,  an  augmenta- 
tion of  quantity  would  be  procured  ;  yet  if  we  went  lower  than 
the  surface  of  the  tide-water,  I  apprehend  that  the  quality  would 
be  materially  injured.  Leaving  the  question,  as  I  fear  it  will  re- 
main undetermined,  we  next  proceed  to  examine  the  quality  of 
the  respective  waters.  To  appreciate  their  merits  fairly,  we 
should  judge  of  their  utility,  by  the  extent  of  their  application. 
Proceeding  on  this  ground,  I  believe  it  may  be  safely  affirmed, 
that  the  water  of  the  Bronx,  is  at  least  equal  to  that  of  the  Col- 
lect ;  though  this  is  contrary  to  the  general  opinion.    The  only 


287  [Doc.  No.  61. 


reason  that  I  can  perceive  for  the  preference  usually  given  to  the 
last  mentioned,  arises  solely  from  its  superior  coolness.  However 
grateful  this  may  be  to  our  feelings,  it  does  not  follow  that  it  is 
equally  conducive  to  our  health  ;  for  whatever  degree  of  purity 
it  may  now  possess,  the  period  is  not  very  remote,  when  from  the 
natural  increase  of  the  City,  these  springs  must  be  subject  to 
those  contaminations  which  have  already  rendered  so  many  wells 
unfit  for  use  ;  an  evil  that  is  daily  increasing,  and  to  which  no 
effectual  remedy  can  be  applied  ;  this  to  me  has  ever  appeared  an 
unsurmountable  objection.  The  idea  of  supplying  a  large  city 
with  pure  water  from  a  reservoir  in  its  centre,  has  always  been  a 
very  strange  one  to  me.  From  the  representations  made  respect- 
ing the  water  of  the  Bronx,  I  believe  many  persons  have  hastily 
concluded  that  it  was  unfit  for  use.  When  it  is  considered  that 
the  principal  cities  in  Europe  are  necessarily  supplied  from  rivers, 
and  with  water  generally  taken  from  those  parts,  which  from  a 
variety  of  causes  are  most  impure,  and  yet  that  the  experience  of 
ages  has  not  evinced  any  known  ill  effects  arising  from  the  prac- 
tice, I  conceive  that  little  fears  will  be  entertained  of  the  salu- 
brity of  the  water  of  the  Bronx,  which  is  a  collection  of  innumera- 
ble springs,  issuing  from  a  rocky  and  gravelly  country,  and  run- 
ning with  a  rapid  current  over  a  bed  of  the  same  materials  It  will 
be  conveyed  into  the  City  without  any  additional  impurity,  and 
ere  it  is  distributed  from  the  reservoir,  will  by  a  mode  of  purifica- 
tion hereafter  described,  be  rendered  as  clear  as  spring  water. 

The  next  object  to  be  ascertained,  is  the  practicability  and  pro- 
bable expense  of  accomplishing  the  respective  plans.  And  here 
it  may  not  be  amiss  to  observe,  that  in  a  matter  of  such  immense 
consequence  to  the  present  and  future  convenience  and  welfare  of 
the  City,  every  local  view,  every  subordinate  consideration  should 
yield  to  the  general  good ;  that  a  regard  to  the  primary  object 
alone  should  decide  the  question,  regardless  of  a  paltry  difference 
of  expense,  or  the  immediate  emolument  to  be  derived  from  the 
undertaking.  On  the  first  of  the  above  mentioned  heads,  there 
have  been  a  diversity  of  opinions,  which  previous  to  an  actual  sur- 
vey, was  not  to  be  wondered  at  These  doubts  must  now  be  re- 
moved, as  it  appears  from  the  examination  that  has  been  recently 
made,  that  the  Bronx  is  sufficiently  elevated  above  the  highest 
parts  of  the  City,  to  introduce  its  waters  therein,  without  the  aid 
+i  machinery ;  and  the  intermediate  ground,  though  very  irregu- 

13 


Doc.  No.  61.] 


288 


lar,  presents  no  obstacles  which  art  and  industry  may  not  sur- 
mount. A  general  view  of  the  subject  is  all  that  I  am  able  now 
to  present,  and  all  that  i9  necessary  to  be  known  in  this  stage  of 
the  business.  An  outline  of  the  plan  I  would  recommend  for 
adoption,  as  best  adapted  to  the  varying  face  of  the  country,  will 
be  sufficient  to  enable  you  to  form  a  tolerable  correct  idea  of  the 
eligibility  of  the  measure.  , 

The  best  situation  i  have  yet  seen  to  draw  the  water  from  the 
Bronx,  is  a  short  distance  above  Mr  Lorillard's  snuff-mill ;  a  break 
in  the  western  bank  enables  us  to  divert  the  stream  (by  means  of 
a  dam  thrown  across  it)  without  any  difficulty.  The  water  being 
raised  six  feet  above  its  natural  level,  will  flow  over  a  small  swamp, 
from  which  originates  the  little  rivulet  called  Mill  Brook.  Fol- 
lowing the  direction  of  this  stream,  a  canal  may  be  drawn  along 
its  northern  bank  at  a  small  expense,  for  the  distance  of  three 
miles,  when  the  ground  falling  off  rapidly,  renders  it  necessary  to 
cross  the  valley  in  which  Mill  Brook  runs,  by  means  of  an  aque- 
duct, to  'he  opposite  rising  ground  ;  along  which  the  level  may 
be  preserved  to  the  heights  above  Harlem  River.  An  open  walled 
canal  will  be  the  cheapest  mode  of  conveying  the  water  so  far  ;  a 
little  loss  is  not  material,  as  a  small  increase  in  the  sections  will 
remedy  such  waste. 

A  declivity  of  six  inches  in  a  mile,  with  a  section  of  1,152  and 
linear  border  of  89  6-IO  inches,  will  occasion  a  velocity  in  the  cur- 
rent sufficient  to  introduce  into  the  small  reservoir  at  the  extre- 
mity of  the  canal,  six  cubic  feet  of  water  per  second  ;  which  is 
more  than  the  quantity  required,  supposing  the  daily  supply  to  be 
three  millions  of  gallons  The  most  difficult  and  expensive  part 
of  the  route,  will  be  the  conveyance  of  the  water  across  Har- 
lem River;  the  m«.st  eligible  mode  of  effecting  this,  appears  to 
me,  to  be  by  means  of  cast  iron  cylinders,  of  two  feet  diameter, 
with  a  difference  ot  eight  feet  between  the  extremities.  This  de- 
scent will  produce  a  velocity  of  22  3  4  inches  per  second,  yielding 
in  that  time  5  95-100  cubic  feet,  while  the  required  quantity  is 
only  5  65-100.  From  the  cylinder  to  the  reservoir,  it  is  a  mat- 
ter of  consequence  to  preserve  as  much  of  the  water  as  possi- 
ble. To  effect  this  object,  the  bottom  and  sides  should  be  ren- 
dered impervious  to  that  element.  An  absolute  necessity  to  pre- 
serve a  regular  and  uniform  descent,  leaves  us  little  room  in  the 
choice  of  our  route  ;  whioh  will  be  chiefly  along  the  shore  of  the 


289  [Doc.  No.  61 . 


North  River.  The  quality  and  make  of  the  ground,  vary  much  : 
the  greatest  impediments  are  occasioned  by  the  numerous  ravines, 
which  intersect  the  line  of  the  canal— over  all  these,  aquedu^  ts 
must  be  constructed.  The  level  may  thus  be  preserved  upwards 
of  six  miles,  or  within  two  miles  of  the  City  ;  there  it  descends  so 
much,  that  unless  higher  ground  can  be  found,  it  will  again  be  ne- 
cessary to  have  recourse  to  iron  cylinders,  to  convey  the  water  into 
the  Grand  Reservoir,  which  may  either  be  placed  in  the  Park,  or  a 
vacant  piece  of  ground  to  the  northward  of  the  Hospital,  either 
of  which  are  sufficiently  elevated  to  distribute  the  water  through 
all  parts  of  the  City. — The  total  distance  from  the  Bronx  to  the 
Park,  is  fourteen  miles  seven  furlongs,  and  the  descent  twenty- 
three  feet.  It  is  to  be  observed,  that  the  principal  object  of  this 
survey,  being  to  ascertain  the  practicability  of  the  plan,  and  nei- 
ther my  time  or  the  season,  permitting  that  minute  investigation, 
which  is  necessary  to  be  made,  previous  to  the  commencement  of 
any  operations,  there  is  a  probability  that  advantageous  devia- 
tions may  be  made  from  the  route  pursued. 

Although  the  form  and  dimensions  of  the  reservoir,  are  objects 
of  importance,  it  is  now  premature  to  point  out  the  particular 
mode  of  construction  I  would  recommend  to  be  adopted  ;  yet  it 
may  not  be  improper  to  give  a  general  outline  thereof,  as  perhaps 
it  may  tend  to  remove  many  of  the  prejudices  which  have  been 
entertained  against  the  supposed  impurity  of  the  waters  of  the 
Bronx.  It  is  proposed  to  divide  the  reservoir  into  three  parts,  two 
of  which  will  again  be  subdivided  ;  each  of  these  minor  divisions 
capable  of  containing  a  daily  supply  of  water.  The  first  division, 
or  reservoir  of  reception,  will  contain  the  water  as  immediately  de- 
livered by  the  cylinder  of  discharge  ;  while  one  of  its  subdivi- 
sions is  filling,  the  other  in  a  quiescent  state,  will  be  depositing  the 
adventitious  matter,  with  which  the  water  may  be  intermixed. 
After  so  remaining  twenty-four  hours,  it  will  be  drawn  ofTby  an 
aperture  near  the  bottom  (so  as  to  prevent  any  buoyant  particles 
from  •ntering)  into  the  reservoir  of  filtration,  where  it  will  still 
further  purify  itself,  by  gradually  depositing  the  remaining  sedi- 
ment, until  it  is  finally  received  into  the  reservoir  of  distribution, 
after  percolating  through  a  bank  of  washed  sand  and  gravel,  (in 
imitation  of  that  natural  process  to  which  all  water  owes  its  puri- 
fication.)— This  last  reservoir  it  is  proposed  to  arch  over,  so  as  to 
nreserve  the  water  pure  and  cool ;  from  hence  it  will  be  distri- 


Doc.  No.  61.']  290 


buted  in  separate  and  distinct  pipes,  through  every  part  of  the 
City. 

The  water  destined  to  cleanse  and  cool  the  streets,  may  be  taken 
immediately  from  the  reservoir  of  reception,  as  I  conceive  it  is  not 
necessary  that  it  should  be  very  pure. 

The  surplus  water  which,  for  a  considerable  part  of  the  year, 
will  not  be  wanted  Tor  washing  the  streets,  may  be  applied  to  a 
variety  ot  purposes,  but  none  more  useful  or  advantageous  than 
the  supply  of  Dry  Docks,  which  may  be  constructed  to  receive 
the  largest  ships. 

If  the  water  in  the  Collect  is  deemed  adequate  to  all  the  pur- 
poses of  domestic  consumption,  it  must  be  raised  by  means  of  a 
steam  engine  into  a  reservoir  ;  the  situation  before  mentioned, 
will  in  this  case  be  very  convenient.    Although  one  engine  might 
be  constructed,  so  as  to  raise* both  the  water  for  washing  the  city 
and  for  family  use  ;  yet,  as  from  the  quantity  necessary  to  be 
raised,  it  would  be  unwieldly  in  its  parts  and  more  liable  to  acci- 
dent, and  also  as  two  thirds  of  its  powers  would  be  useless  the 
greatest  part  of  the  year,  T  believe  it  will  be  most  adviseable  to 
erect  two  ;  the  first  destined  to  raise  the  water  for  cleansing  the 
streets,  placed  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  to  the  northward  of  the  hos- 
pital ;  which  would  be  supplied  with  water  from  a  reservoir  made 
in  the  adjacent  low  ground.    This  would  be  replenished  twice  in 
twenty  four  hours  by  the  tide,  by  means  of  an  open  canal  or  cul- 
vert, communicating  wiih  the  reservoir.    The  small  engine  might 
be  placed  near  the  other,  the  pump  well  being  supplied  with  wa- 
ter from  the  collect  conveyed  in  a  culvert  or  pipes.    The  follow- 
ing calculations  of  the  dimensions  of  the  largest  engine,  will  be 
found  sufficiently  correct,  to  enable  you  to  form  a  tolerable  idea 
of  the  annual  expense  attendant  on  it.    Admitting  the  quantity 
(as  before  calculated)  to  be  sufficient,  we  find  that  2,200,000  gal- 
lons, or  359,640  cubic  feet  must  be  daily  raised.    Supposing  the 
engine  to  work  sixteen  hours  out  of  twenty -four,  we  have  22,477 
feet  to  be  raised  every  hour,  or  nearly  375  every  minute,  estimat- 
ing ten  strokes  to  be  made  in  a  minute,  each  stroke  must  yield 
27\  feet ;  but  as  pumps  generally  fail  in  producing  the  calculated 
quantity,  say  40  feet  per  stroke  ;  and  if  the  lengths  of  the  strokes 
are  eight  feet,  it  will  require  a  pump  of  30T2/^  inches  diameter  ; 
but  a  pump  of  that  dimension  would  not  answer  in  practice;  it 
will  be  necessary  therefore,  to  diminish  the  diameter  and  increase 


291  [Doc.  No.  61. 


the  number  of  pumps  ;  six  of  12T\  inches  will  be  equal  in  area 
to  that  before  mentioned  As  the  water  would  be  raised  about 
fifty  feet,  the  weight  of  the  column  would  be  15,613  pounds, 
which  would  require  a  cylinder  of  44T20  inches  diameter  (allowing 
the  active  power  of  Messrs.  Bolton  and  Watts'  engines  to  be  eight 
pounds  on  every  circular  inch)  such  an  engine  would  consume 
about  330  pounds  of  coal  per  hour. 

Having  thus  given  you  every  information  necessary  to  be 
known  for  your  guidance,  I  shall  conclude,  by  remarking,  that 
my  objections  to  the  Collect,  being  founded  on  the  doubts  I  en- 
tertain of  its  efficiency  to  supply  the  annual  increasing  demand  of 
this  improving  City,  and  to  the  contamination  its  waters  will  be 
subject  to)  will  be  done  away  altogether,  when  it  shall  be  made  to 
appear  that  they  are  groundless ;  in  such  a  case  there  can  be  no 
question,  which  plan  is  most  eligible,  as  it  respects  the  time  and 
expense  of  execution. 

I  am,  Sir, 

With  Respect, 

Your  obedient  Servant, 
WILLIAM  WESTON. 

The  Hon.  RICHARD  VARICK. 
NewTork,  March  14,  1799. 

Printed  by  order  of  the  Common  Council, 

ROBERT  BENSON,  Clerk. 


* 


4 


BOARD  OF  ALDERMEN, 

DECEMBER  24,  1832. 

The  following   Report   was  received,  and  Re- 
ferred back  to  the  Committee  on  Fire  and 
Water. 

J.  MORTON,  Clerk. 


The  Committee  on  Fire  and  Water,  to  whom  was  re- 
ferred the  Resolution  of  Mr.  Bruen,  of  the  Board  of  As- 
sistant Aldermen,  requesting  authority  from  the  Legislature, 
to  contract  a  Loan  of  Two  Millions  of  Dollars,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  supplying  the  City  with  pure  and  wholesome  water, 

Beg  leave  to  Report: 

That  they  have,  in  addition  to  the  information  already  in 
the  possession  of  the  Common  Council,  obtained  a  Report 
from  Messieurs  Dewey  &  Serrel,  in  relation  to  the  Bronx 
River  and  its  tributary  streams.  Also,  a  Report  of  the 
Chemical  Analysis  of  the  Water,  from  Messrs.  Griscom, 
Chilton  &  Ackerly,  all  of  which  demonstate,  that  from  this 
stream  an  ample  supply  of  good  water  can  be  readily  ob- 
tained. 

They  also  submit  a  Report  of  Col.  Clinton,  upon  the 
subject  generally  ;  which  demonstrates,  that  from  the  Croton 
River  an  inexhaustible  supply  of  wholesome  water  can  be 
obtained,  and  introduced  into  the  city  without  the  aid  of 
machinery.  Upon  the  superiority  of  either  of  these  plans, 
they  abstain  from  passing  any  opinion  :  enough,  however, 
has  been  ascertained,  to  prove  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 


■i 


Committee,  that  no  time  ought  to  be  lost  in  obtaining  au- 
thority from  the  Legislature,  to  raisp  by  loan,  such  a  Bum  of 
money  a6  may  be  required  for  so  desirable  an  object.  They 
therefore,  upon  a  full  investigation  and  deliberate  examina- 
tion of  the  subject,  would  recommend  a  concurrence  wi'h 
the  Resolution  of  the  Board  of  Assistants;  and  that  the 
Counsel  for  the  Corporation  be  directed  to  prepare  an  ap- 
plication to  the  Legislature,  to  carry  the  resolution  int© 
effect 

JAMES  PALMER. 
GEO.  VV.  BKLEN, 
CHAS.  HENRY  HALL, 
g    WM  MANDEYJLLE, 

New-York,  December  22,  1832. 


The  following  Report  and  Law  were  presented,  and  Adopted 
By  the  Hoard  of  Aldermen*  January  7,  1833. 
By  the  Board  of  Assistants,  January,  14,  1833. 
Approved  by  the  Mayor,  January  17,  1833. 

J.  MORTON,  Clerk. 


The  Committee  on  Fire  and  Water,  to  whom  were  re- 
ferred the  annexed  Report  and  Resolution,  on  the  subject 
of  applying  to  the  Legislature  for  the  passage  of  an  Act 
authorizing  the  Corporation  to  borrow  a  sum  not  exceeding 
two  millions  of  Dollars  to  supply  the  City  of  New- York 
with  water, 

Respectfully  Report: 

That,  considering  it  as  admitted  on  all  hands  that  Legis- 
lative aid  vvili  be  required  to  enable  the  Corporation  to 
carry  into  effect  any  project  which  may  ultimately  be  adopt- 
ed, for  procuring  a  sufficient  supply  of  water,  for  the  use  of 
the  Inhabitants  ofthisCi.y,  the  Committee  have  directed 
their  attention  particularly  to  the  nature  and  provisions  of 
the  law  which  should  now  be  applied  for  by  the  Common 
Council  and  they  have  deemed  it  their  particular  duty  to 
de' ermine  upon  such  course  of  proceeding  as  may  procure 
for  the  Corporation  all  the  requisite  powers  for  accomplish- 
ing this  great  work,  according  to  any  plan  hereafter  to  be 
adopted,  without  forming  or  expressing  any  opinion  as  to 
which  of  the  various  projects  already  proposed  for  that  pur- 
pose, should  be  preferred. 

It  is  well  known  to  the  Common  Council,  that  an  Act  of 
the  Legislature,  intended  to  confer  powers  on  the  Corpo- 
ration of  this  City  for  supplying  it  with  water,  has  already 
be^n  applied  for  without  success.  Whether  such  should 
have  been  its  fate,  it  is  not  perhaps  necessary  to  inquire  ; 
the  fact  that  objections  were  made  to  it,  which  prevented 
its  passage,  is  sufficient  to  raise  doubts  as  to  the  expediency 


1 


of  renewing  the  application  in  the  same  form  ;  and  the 
Committee,  after  much  deliberation,  and  having  b<  stowed 
their  best  judgment  upon  this  point,  have  come  to  the  con- 
clusion, that  a  similar  application  would,  in  all  probability, 
again  meet  with  a  similar  fate,  and  that  good  policy  now 
requires  that  a  different  course  should  be  pursued. 

The  Committee  have  ascertained  to  their  satisfaction, 
that  the  ground  upon  which  the  law  applied  for  at  the  last 
session  of  the  Legislature  was  defeated,  was  in  substance, 
that  no  law  should  be  passed  authorizing  the  Corporation  to 
borrow  or  expend  money  to  such  an  extent  as  would  be 
needful  for  a  project  of  this  nature,  until  it  should  satisfac- 
torily be  shown  that  the  object  in  view,  both  as  to  the  quan- 
tity and  quality  of  the  water  would  be  attained  by  such  ex- 
penditure. In  answer  to  this  objection  it  might  be  urged,  that 
scientific  men  have  already  examined  the  subject,  and  that 
their  reports  leave  no  room  to  doubt  the  practicability  of 
obtaining  an  abundant  supply  of  pure  water  for  the  City  in 
different  ways,  and  that  they  have  made  estimates  of  the 
probable  expense  of  carrying  their  plans  into  effect.  It  must 
be  admitted  however,  that  the  views  of  all  the  different 
Engineers  who  have  made  reports  on  this  subject  do  not 
agree,  either  as  to  the  fittest  plan  to  be  adopted,  or  as  to  the 
probable  cost  of  accomplishing  the  work  ;  and  it  is  certain, 
that  even  if  the  Common  Council  had  all  the  requisite  pow- 
ers, no  particular  plan  of  operation  has  yet  been  definitively 
settled  or  agreed  upon  by  that  body. 

To  obviate  the  difficulty  therefore,  which  has  already  im- 
peded this  subject  before  the  Legislature,  it  has  been  sug- 
gested that  a  law  should  now  be  applied  for,  simply  provid- 
ing lor  the  appointment  of  a  Board  of  Commissioners,  who 
should  be  invested  with  full  powers  to  examine  all  the  plans 
which  have  hitherto  been  proposed — to  cause  actual  surveys 
to  be  made— to  have  the  water  tested — to  estimate  the  pro- 
bable expense,  and  generally  to  do  whatever,  in  their  judg- 
ment, may  be  necessary  to  arrive  at  a  right  result,  as  to  the 
best  mode  of  effecting  the  proposed  object,  and  the  amount 
of  money  necessary  to  be  obtained  and  expended  for  that 


s 


purpose  ;  and  requiring  such  Commissioners  to  make  a  re- 
port of  such  result,  not  only  to  the  Common  Council,  but  to 
the  Legislature,  for  their  information. 

It  will  be  perceived,  that  the  object  of  getting  such  a  law 
past,  is  to  put  at  rest  all  cavilling  which  might  arise  in  the 
Legislature,  as  to  the  feasibility  of  the  project,  or  as  to  the 
probable  cost  thereof,  by  having  a  report  on  the  subject,  from 
a  hoard  of  competent  and  disinterested  men,  who  should  not 
only  review  the  opinions  of  others,  but  exercise  their  own 
judgments  from  actual  examination,  and  who  should  have 
the  power  to  cali  to  their  aid,  the  talents  of  such  engineers 
and  men  of  skill  as  they  might  think  fit  ;  and  it  will  be  obvi- 
ous als  >,  that  such  law,  being  merely  passed  to  obtain  and 
furnish  to  the  Legislature  correct  information,  must  be  fol- 
lowed by  an  application  for  another  law,  which  shall  confer 
upon  the  Corporation  the  necessary  powers ;  this  would 
appear  to  create  some  delay,  but  such  would  not,  in  fact,  be 
its  operation  :  the  Corporation  want  no  powers  until  they 
have  determined  upon  their  plan  of  proceeding;  and  this  it 
may  /airly  be  presumed,  would  be  settled  by  the  report  of 
the  Commissioners  to  be  appointed  by  the  proposed  law. 
Those  Commissioners  would  have  ample  time  to  complete 
their  report,  previous  to  the  next  session  of  the  Legislature  : 
and  the  application  for  giving  the  necessary  powers  to  the 
Corporation  could  be  then  made,  and  would,  it  is  confidently 
believed  by  the  Committee,  meet  with  no  opposition. 

To  enable  the  Common  Council  to  examine  the  report  of 
such  Commissioners,  and  to  prepare  in  season  for  the  neces- 
sary application  to  the  Legislature,  founded  thereon,  the 
Committee  suggest  that  the  law  should  provide  for  having  a 
copy  of  such  report  furnished  to  the  Common  Council,  on  or 
before  the  first  day  of  November  next,  and  that  the  report 
should  be  made  to  the  Legislature,  during  the  first  week  of 
its  next  session. 

Having  determined  upon  the  expediency  of  applying  to 
the  Legislature,  during  its  present  session,  for  a  law  to  this 
extent  only,  in  preference  to  renewing  the  application  here- 
tofore made,  the  Committee  have  deliberated  upon  the  fittest 


6 


mode  of  having  such  Commissioners  appointed,  and  of  what 
number  they  should  consist ; — various  modes  of  appointment 
have  been  suggested,  viz : — by  the  Common  Coun>  ll,  by  the 
Supreme  Court,  by  the  Legislature  in  the  act  itself,  or  by 
the  Governor  and  Senate.  7'hey  have  concluded  to  re- 
commend the  last  mentioned  mode  of  appointment  as  the 
least  objectionable  ;  and  they  are  of  opinion  that  the  number 
of  such  Commissioners  should  be  at  least  five,  inasmuch,  as 
the  object  of  their  appointment  is  to  settle  conclusively  upon 
the  plan  to  be  adopted,  and  the  amount  requisite  for  its  per- 
formance, and  to  satisfy  the  Legislature  as  well  as  the  citizens 
of  New-York  on  these  points,  and  it  is  therefore  important 
to  give  the  report  of  such  board  of  Commissioners,  the 
weight  to  be  derived  from  the  number,  as  well  as  the  re- 
spectability and  intelligence  of  its  members. 

The  Committee,  with  these  views  deem  it  inexpedient  to 
make  such  application  to  the  Legislature  as  is  specified  in 
the  annexed  report  and  resolution,  but  they  have  di'ected 
the  accompanying  draft  of  a  law  to  be  prepared,  which  they 
respectfully  submit  to  the  Common  Council,  and  offer  the 
following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Counsel  cause  the  same  to  be  laid 
before  the  Legislature,  with  a  suitable  memorial  for  its  pas- 
sage, and  that  such  memorial  be  authenticated  in  the  usual 
mode. 

james  palmer, 
wm.  mandeville, 
charles  henry  hall, 
d.  McCarthy, 
peter  s.  titus. 


AN  ACT 


To  appoint  Water  Commissioners  for  the  City  of 
New-  York, 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New- York,  represented  in 
Senate  and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows  : 

§  1 .  The  Governor  shall  nominate,  and  with  the  consent 
of  the  Senate,  shall  appoint  five  persons  to  be  known  as  the 
Water  Commissioners  for  the  City  of  New- York. 

§  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  Commissioners  to  ex- 
amine and  consider  all  matters  relative  to  supplying  the  City 
of  New- York  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  pure  and  whole- 
some water,  for  the  use  of  its  inhabitants,  and  to  the  amount 
of  money  necessary  to  effect  that  object. 

§  3.  The  said  Commissioners  shall  have  power  to  employ 
Engineers,  Surveyors,  and  such  other  persons  as  in  their 
opinion  may  be  necessary  to  enable  them  to  fulfil  their  du- 
ties under  this  Act. 

§  4.  The  said  Commissioners  shall  make  a  Report  of 
their  proceedings  under  this  Act.  which  shall  contain  their 
opinion  as  to  the  best  plan  of  furnishing  the  City  of  New- 
York  with  a  sufficient  supply  of  pure  and  wholesome  water, 
and  an  estimate  of  the  expense  of  carrying  such  plan  into 
effect.  Also,  the  reasons  and  calculations  upon  which  such 
opinion  and  estimate  may  be  founded  ;  and  generally  all 
such  information  connected  with  the  object  of  their  appoint- 
ment, as  they  may  deem  important. 

§  5.  The  said  Commissioners  shall  present  a  copy  of  the 
said  Report  to  the  Common  Council  of  the  City  of  New- 
York,  on  or  before  the  first  Monday  of  November,  of  the 
year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-three,  and  their 
said  Report  shall  be  made  and  presented  by  them  to  the 


8 


Legislature,  on  or  before  the  second  Monday  of  January, 
of  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-four. 

§  6.  In  case  of  the  death  or  resignation  of  any  of  the  said 
Commissioners,  the  vacancy  shall  be  supplied  by  the  person 
administering  the  government  of  this  State  ;  and  a  majority 
of  the  said  five  Commissioners  shall  constitute  a  board  or 
quorum  for  the  transaction  of  their  business. 

§  7.  All  reasonable  expenses  to  be  incurred  under  this 
Act,  shall  be  paid  by  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Common- 
alty of  the  City  of  New- York. 


